Santa Margarita girls soccer beats Mater Dei to continue Open Division reign

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ORANGE — Santa Margarita girls soccer coach Craig Bull playfully tilted the championship plaque side to side before handing it to his players.

They knew exactly what to do.

The Eagles hoisted the CIF-SS Open Division trophy, leaped and cheered after a 3-0 victory against rival Mater Dei in the final at El Modena High on Saturday.

With a stunning goal from sophomore Presley Schumaker and two from leading-scorer Felicity Nguyen, the top-seeded Eagles (17-1-5 ) claimed their second consecutive Open crown and third section title in four seasons under Bull.

Santa Margarita also won its record 10th section championship.

“I feel so proud of myself and the team, and especially the youngers for stepping up,” said the Eagles’ Jastel David, the only senior starter on the team. “I’m so proud of everyone for just wanting it as much as I do being a senior.”

“(Bull) came in and really switched the program around,” the University of Utah-committed forward added. “I give him a lot of credit.”

Schumaker broke a scoreless deadlock in the 39th minute. Right before halftime, the midfielder collected a loose ball around 30 yards from the goal, dribbled quickly to her right and struck a right-footed shot in off the far post.

“Truly electric,” Mater Dei coach Matty West said of Schumaker’s goal, her second of the season. “We put ourselves in a couple really good spots (to score). On a different day, I think we convert.”

“It was probably one of the best goals I’ve scored,” added Schumaker. “It’s so cool to celebrate with all these young players (and) it’s so fun to celebrate with our seniors, too.”

Third-seeded Mater Dei (14-3-8) increased its offensive pressure in the second half. In one sequence, Santa Margarita goalie Kaitlin Crossett made a block that the Monarchs rebounded but their shot went over the goal.

Santa Margarita answered with its own pressure.

After Mater Dei goalie Ella Priest made back-to-back saves, Nguyen drew a penalty with 18 minutes left in regulation. The junior committed to Texas A & M converted for her 26th goal and a 2-0 lead.

About a minute later, Santa Margarita freshman midfielder Reagan Kemmerer fed Nguyen a through ball that Nguyen booted with her left foot for her second goal and 3-0 advantage.

Kemmerer emerged as Santa Margarita played without sophomore midfielder Ella Bott, who has been training recently with Angel City FC, Bull said.

“We’re very fortunate to have the talent we do,” said Bull, whose team has lost six key players this season to a combination of early graduation, professional teams or injury. “We lose amazing seniors that go do great things in college and into the pros, but our freshmen that come in every year, they just keep reloading us. There’s no drop off.”

Santa Margarita’s youth also delivered on defense. The Eagles’ backline featured sophomore Laiken Klimpel and Allie Sugerman and freshman Hayleigh Kennett. Sophomore midfielder Riley Neves also played well defensively.

In the Trinity League, the teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first match. Santa Margarita won the second game 4-1.

Both teams continue their seasons next week in the CIF Southern California Regional. The pairings will be released Sunday.