Newport Harbor More Than Happy to Get a Tie

Sometimes ties can be frustrating for both coaches, but Friday afternoon Woodbridge Coach Jon Szczuka and Newport Harbor Coach Colin Bouette could only smile after their teams tied, 1-1, to open Sea View League boys’ soccer play.

Bouette’s smile seemed to be a little wider though. The Sailors were playing without their best player, senior forward Justin Kerr, who already has scored 15 goals and was a first team Times All-County pick last year.

“I’m happy to come out 1-1 with the defending [league] champs on the road,” Bouette said. “Getting the point away from home is good. It’s a long league season and if you can steal one on the road, you’re feeling pretty good.”

Szczuka was happy because his team was badly outplayed for the first 20 minutes and didn’t score a goal until the game was nearly 55 minutes old. He also was playing seventh-ranked Newport Harbor (11-3-3).

The Sailors scored 10 minutes into the game on a tap-in by Ryan Hoover off a beautiful cross from Ryan Yurada. Sixth-ranked Woodbridge (9-2-3) started to come on late in the half, but each time freshman goalkeeper Zach Wells made the save. Daniel Chun tied it on a left-footed kick from 15 yards out off an assist from Chad Harris.

Chun almost got a cheap goal with one second left in the game, but Wells read the kick and caught the ball easily. Kerr, who earlier announced he would play his college soccer at Princeton, was unable to play after receiving a red card in the Sailors’ last game of the Orange holiday tournament. Bouette never confirmed Kerr’s eligibility for the league opener so he played it safe and sat him.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Woodbridge but I believe Justin would have been the difference in the game,” Bouette said. “I think he’s the best striker in the county. It’s a bit of a learning experience for him.”