SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I GIRLS’ SOCCER : Santa Margarita Is Outshot, but Mater Dei Gets Outscored

Playing with its usual aggressiveness, the Mater Dei girls’ soccer team gave Santa Margarita plenty to handle Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

The unseeded Monarchs attacked in waves and took more than twice as many shots as fourth-seeded Santa Margarita.

But Santa Margarita was more efficient around the goal and the Eagles were the ones celebrating a 3-1 victory at Mater Dei.

Santa Margarita (22-4-2) advanced to play top-seeded Marina in the semifinals Tuesday at a site to be determined. Mater Dei finished 14-7-5.

“I don’t think the best team came through with the win,” Mater Dei Coach Michelle Myers said. “I think we outplayed them and they got two lucky breaks in the first half.”

That’s arguable. It’s true Mater Dei outshot Santa Margarita, 25-12, but most of the Monarchs’ shots didn’t stand a chance to go in. And Santa Margarita’s two first-half goals weren’t flukes.

The first, in the eighth minute, was set up by a flip throw-in by sophomore midfielder Ami Aylor. Aylor’s high-arching throw bounced once off the ground and once off the crossbar. Kristen Rowe tried to head in the ball, but it was knocked away. Annie Luke controlled the rebound and scored.

The second, in the 37th minute, came on a free kick near the sideline. Meagan Lingo aimed to the near post, freezing Mater Dei goalkeeper Amanda Fox, and Erica DeVitis only had to nudge a header into the open net.

Mater Dei battled back, but only tested Santa Margarita goalkeeper Riki-Ann Serrins several times in the second half. Mater Dei had the opportunities but shots usually went wide or high or directly at Serrins, who finished with six saves.

Serrins did have to make one nice save on a high-bouncing shot. Serrins, a 5-foot-5 sophomore who finished with six saves, had just enough reach to knock the ball up against the crossbar. Kristie Hoback controlled the rebound about five yards from Serrins, but kicked it right at the goalkeeper.

In the 74th minute, Santa Margarita increased its lead to 3-0 when Chrissy Anderson’s crossing pass from the right side reached Aylor on the left. Aylor kicked it in.

Mater Dei’s Katie Ticehurst scored on a breakaway in the 78th minute. Late in injury time, Luke was pushed down in the penalty box and awarded a penalty kick. Her penalty shot bounced off the post.

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In other Division I games:

Marina 2, Chino Don Lugo 1--Kristen Palmer and Marcy Crouch each scored first-half goals for Marina (19-0-1), which extended its unbeaten streak to 59 games. Jennifer Ayala scored in the 21st minute to give Don Lugo (20-6-3) a 1-0 lead, but Palmer scored seconds later and Crouch scored in the 29th minute.

Irvine 2, Simi Valley 0--Katie Roda scored her 13th goal of the season 15 minutes into the game and freshman Jennifer Myerson scored 13 minutes into the second half for Irvine (17-3-6). Missy Brigman had five saves in recording her 14th shutout of the season for the Vaqueros, who will play Claremont (26-1-2) in Tuesday’s semifinals.

Claremont 3, Los Alamitos 1--Cyndi Tredway scored and Heather Thomas had eight saves in the loss for the Griffins (17-6-2).