Santa Margarita girls soccer defeats Los Alamitos to win Division I regional title
The Eagles shut out the Griffins in the regional final with another stellar outing by its back line and goalkeeper Peyton Trayer.
The Santa Margarita girls soccer team celebrates its 1-0 win over Los Alamitos for the CIF Southern California Division I Southern Regional Championships at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
LAS FLORES — After a grueling CIF Southern Section championship match that lasted 100 minutes and was played through dismal weather conditions last week, the Santa Margarita girls soccer team was hoping for a less stressful but equally satisfying outing Saturday.
The Eagles got another stellar performance from their back line and goalkeeper Peyton Trayer, plus a set-piece goal from Faith George that proved to be the difference in a 1-0 triumph over Los Alamitos in the CIF SoCal Division I Regional championship game at Tesoro High.
The Santa Margarita girls soccer team celebrates their 1-0 win over Los Alamitos for the CIF Southern California Division I Southern Regional Championships at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
The Santa Margarita girls soccer team celebrates on the field as they defeat Los Alamitos 1-0 for the CIF Southern California Division I Southern Regional Championships at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ goalkeeper Avarie Gonzalez blocks a shot in the first half of a CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game against Santa Margarita, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ goalkeeper Avarie Gonzalez grabs the ball keeping it from Santa Margarita’s Kendall Memoly and Faith George during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Faith George (12) celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game against Los Alamitos in the first half of the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Zamorah Malinoski leaps for the ball as she tries to get it past Santa Margarita’s Jastel David during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Angelina Moschetti and Los Alamitos’ Kaylee Noble battle for the ball during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Viviana Zacarias, left, tries to keep the ball from Santa Margarita’s Kendall Memoly during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Vanessa Pirrello, center leaps for the ball with Santa Margarita’s Skylar Regan, left, and Angelina Moschetti during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Ava Ortiz tries to keep the ball from Santa Margarita’s Cora Fry during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Alina Perez, left, and Santa Margarita’s Jastel David fights for the ball during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Katie Piburn tries to block as Santa Margarita’s Faith George kicks the ball during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Faith George, left, celebrates with Skylar Regan after George scored the only goal of the game against Los Alamitos during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
The Santa Margarita girls soccer team celebrates its 1-0 win over Los Alamitos for the CIF Southern California Division I Southern Regional Championships at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Faith George dives as Los Alamitos’ Victoria Bloch makes contact with the ball during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Victoria Bloch, left, and Santa Margarita’s Jastel David leap for the ball during the first half of the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Emily Nunez work to keep the ball from Los Alamitos’ Katie Piburn during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita’s Molly MacMillan tries to keep the ball from Los Alamitos’ Zamorah Malinoski during the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Tesoro High, March 4, 2023.
(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
The same two teams met in the CIF-SS Division 1 final on Feb. 25, with the Eagles (22-2-2) beating the Griffins by edging them in penalty kicks, 2-1, after a scoreless regulation and overtime.
George’s set-piece goal from 20-yards out in the 25th minute Saturday proved to be enough for the Eagles, who earned their second regional championship.
George’s sisters, Michaela and Gwyneth, were members of the 2015-16 squad that won the Eagles’ first regional title.
“The last time it was done, it was my sisters that won it both, so it’s just really emotional for my family and I,” George said, “and I knew that stepping on this field that I wanted to follow in their footsteps and win this for them, for my family and for this team.”
Santa Margarita coach Craig Bull concluded his first season in charge with a memorable double, a CIF-SS title and a regional title. He was quick to give all of the credit to his players.
“To play three games in one week, well three games in five days — Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday — and against very good opposition in Los Al,” Bull said recounting what his team faced in the regional playoffs. “So what these girls have done and the sacrifices they’ve made is incredible, it’s still sinking in.
“We help guide them, but ultimately the players are what win soccer games and these kids are next-level talented. We’re thrilled for them.”
Bull said the free-kick goal could’ve come from captain Angelina Moschetti, but it was Moschetti who told George about a one-foot gap between the Los Alamitos wall and the far post.
“We let them figure it out,” Bull said. “They can both hit a ball very well, but it was Faith’s turn today and she helped win us a state title.”
“Last weekend and today were both challenging games and sometimes soccer comes down to one play and that’s what it did tonight …,” Los Alamitos coach Pat Rossi said.
The Griffins (20-8-5) had a pair of opportunities early in the second half. Viviana Zacarias’ curved shot went wide of the post and then Trayer saved Kaylee Noble’s attempt on goal in the 48th minute.
Trayer also had a kick-save on Sanaa Guyness’ shot in the 61st minute.
“In the second half we changed things around, went a little more offensive, more aggressive,” Rossi said, “and we had more chances but in soccer if you don’t put them away, that’s how it goes.”
The Griffins had a handful of corner kicks in the second half but every opportunity was thwarted by Trayer and the Eagles defense.
Bull said the win wouldn’t have been possible without the team’s back line of Charlotte Memoly, Christa Hayden, Skylar Regan and Kaylee McKeegan.
“Defensively, they give us a chance to win every game,” Bull said.
