Newport Harbor girls' soccer beats Marina to take Wave League title outright

Newport Harbor's Laine Briggs, center, is all smiles after scoring a goal against Marina on Tuesday.

By Anthony CiardelliSpecial Contributor

Feb. 2, 2022 2:29 PM PT

The Newport Harbor High School girls’ soccer team had a list of things to celebrate Tuesday.

On senior night, Newport Harbor defeated Marina 4-1 at Davidson Field to clinch the Wave League title outright. The win was the Sailors seventh in a row, giving the program two consecutive league titles and three in the last four seasons.

Laine Briggs scored twice and Brielle Benedict once in the Newport Harbor victory. Antonella Russo scored the final tally for the Sailors, and Newport Harbor goalkeeper Emily Park made three saves in the win.

Abby Kirby scored the lone goal for Marina (6-9-2, 2-3). Marina goalkeeper Taylee Vo stopped 13 of 17 shots.

Newport Harbor's Brielle Benedict (9) makes a move through the Marina defense during a Wave League girls' soccer game.

Newport Harbor (12-8-4, 5-0) jumped ahead in the 11th minute, when Benedict settled a pass from Lana Burns and slid a low shot past Vo for a 1-0 Sailors lead.

Benedict credited Burns for her opportunity.

“As Lana got the ball, I was clearing space for her, and she saw me and quickly played me through,” Benedict said, “I took a good touch with my left foot, looked up and hoped for the best. Our simple details were really good tonight.”

In the 18th minute, another Benedict shot hit Vo but eluded her grasp and landed at the feet of Briggs, who deposited the rebound for a 2-0 Newport Harbor lead.

Marina's Abby Kirby (18) passes the ball during a Wave League girls' soccer game against Newport Harbor on Tuesday.

Briggs wanted the spotlight to go to the seniors on senior night.

“It feels great,” Briggs said. “I’d rather have all the seniors score, but I guess I’m just there at the right time.”

Vo was busy throughout the night for Marina, especially in the latter stages of the opening half, sprinting out of her net to stop Isabelle Whittaker at point-blank range and recovering to snatch a Benedict crossing attempt.

In the 41st minute, Kirby collected a pass in transition from Gisselle Barragan. From nearly 30 yards away, Kirby launched a shot directly into the top right corner of the Newport Harbor goal to bring Marina within one.

Marina's Riley Crosby (3) heads the ball contested by Newport Harbor's Laine Briggs during a Wave League girls' soccer game.

“I was just thinking to shoot,” Kirby said. “Because if I don’t shoot, I can’t score. I was very excited.”

Marina coach Heath Oberle told his team not to let Newport Harbor off the hook without a fight.

“We knew Newport was a good team,” Oberle said. “They always are. We just kind of let them do whatever they wanted in the first half, so in the second half, I just asked them to show some fight and determination and just make it difficult.”

Newport Harbor's Antonella Russo has her shot blocked by Marina goalie Taylee Vo during a Wave League girls' soccer game.

Kirby’s goal briefly swung the momentum for Marina. In the 51st minute, a long shot by Elizabeth Krysinski rung off the crossbar before the Sailors cleared the ball.

Newport Harbor pulled ahead 3-1 in the 61st minute. Benedict crossed the ball into the box for Whittaker, whose shot bounced off Vo — and then a Marina defender — before Briggs put in her opportunity.

Newport Harbor iced the game in the 66th minute, when Russo threaded a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box through the Marina wall and past Vo for Newport Harbor’s final goal.

Newport Harbor travels to Laguna Beach (5-8-2, 2-3) to close out its regular season Thursday, while Marina plays host to Fountain Valley (6-11-3, 1-4).