Wade Sias, staff writer
Julie King, photographer
Continuing on in the Sunset League, the Barons took on Newport Harbor on Wednesday. The Barons unfortunately lost by a gruesome 2-27 to the 2nd ranked team in the county.
Newport Harbour 14-0-1 has gone undefeated all season with the exception of one loss to the number one team in the county Mater Dei. The Barons knew they had their work cut out for them.
Starting off the game battling hard, the Barons kept off the Sailors for the first couple of minutes. However, an unlucky turnover and resulting breakaways started off the barrage of goals. Newport kept up the pressure and dominated with speedy and powerful swimming and netted goal after goal in the first period. By the end of the first period the Barons faced an almost insurmountable score of 0-10. The Barons in the second period did not fare much better. The period was characterized by missed shots by Fountain Valley and low pressure around the net. Newport took a large majority of possession and continued to net goal after goal bringing the game to 0-17 at half.
The 3rd period saw the subbing of keeper Joseph Romo (’12) out for Chad Halstad (’14). The newly brought up Sophomore faced the powerful shots of Newport and the Barons fell further down 0-20.
Toward the end of the period, Jake LeBaron (’14) scored the first Baron goal of the game on a shot from a distance. However, the Barons could not build upon his goal and let in two more before the 4th quarter. The 4th quarter saw another goal by the Barons, a penalty shot scored by captain Nick Frens (’12). By this time though the game had fallen out of reach with an end score of 2-27.
Newport Harbour showed why they were one of the top teams in the county, they were fast strong and played very organized. The Barons are facing one of the toughest Sunset Leagues in the last few years and every game will be an enormous task. An overall league record of 0-0-2 for the Barons, will be striving to get on track next game against Marina, a very beatable team.
