Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Santa Margarita and Santiago of Corona won’t play for a CIF-SS girls soccer championship this year. And they won’t play for a CIF Southern California Regional title if qualifying follows the script.
The rivals will still collide in the postseason.
Santa Margarita and Santiago on Saturday were paired for a first round, home-and-away series to highlight the draw for an eight-team CIF-SS Open Division.
Top-seeded Santa Margarita (14-1-3) will play at No. 8 Santiago (17-2-3) on Thursday, Feb. 12 while the Eagles will play host to the Sharks on Saturday, Feb, 14. The cumulative score from both matches will determine the team that advances to the quarterfinals.
Last season, Santa Margarita captured a record ninth section championship by defeating Santiago 4-2 in the Open Division final. The Sharks later beat the Eagles in penalty kicks to claim the Division I regional crown.
In 2024, Santiago blanked Santa Margarita 2-0 for the Open Division title but the Eagles found redemption by edging the Sharks in the regional final on penalty kicks.
“Santiago has always been a big rival these past two years so it’s going to feel a little different playing them in the first round,” Santa Margarita coach Craig Bull said.
The SoCal regional carries added importance this season since it serves as the qualifier for the inaugural CIF State championships, March 13-14 at Natomas High in Sacramento.
The Open Division semifinalists earn automatic bids to the regional.
The Open Division also features a first-round pairing of third-seeded Mater Dei (11-2-7) and No. 6 Huntington Beach (13-1-5), No. 2 Redondo (16-1-2) and No. 7 JSerra (7-3-3) and No. 4 Oaks Christian and No. 5 Palos Verdes.
“All the eight teams in the Open can beat anyone,” Bull said.
The section used power ratings to place teams in divisions.
Santa Margarita claimed the Trinity League despite starting only one senior in winger Jastel David, a Utah commit. The Eagles’ Peyton Trayer (North Carolina) and Cora Fry (Tennessee) graduated early.
Huntington Beach almost finished the regular season without a loss but fell in double sudden-death overtime to Edison 2-1 in the finals of the Sunset League tournament.
Edison (11-7-3) earned the No. 3 seed in Division 1 and a first-round match against Sea View League champion Mission Viejo (9-4-1) on Thursday.
Beckman (7-10-2), which finished third in the Sea View, received the top seed in Division 2 and a first-round match against Brea Olinda (14-6-7).
Other highly-seeded teams include Northwood (fourth in Division 3) and Kennedy (third in Division 5).
Related Articles
CIF-SS girls soccer playoffs: First-round schedule for all divisions Three Trinity League teams in Open Division of CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs: First-round schedule for all divisions Fullerton and Laguna Hills boys soccer finish as co-champs after intense battle Edison girls soccer stuns Huntington Beach in OT thriller for league titleHence then, the article about santa margarita girls soccer draws rival santiago corona to open playoffs was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Santa Margarita girls soccer draws rival Santiago Corona to open playoffs )
Also on site :