Boys’ soccer: Santa Margarita may have to face Loyola

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The Southern Section boys’ soccer playoff pairingswere just released and Santa Margarita is the No. 1 seeded team in Division I. That may end up being a punishment more than a reward.

The Eagles (15-3-3, 7-2-1 Trinity champion) face the likely prospect of hosting Loyola (15-5-7, 6-3-3 Mission No. 4) in the first round on Friday. A match between the Eagles and the Cubs would be a rematch of last year’s Division I final that ended in a draw.

Loyola needs to get past Long Beach Wilson first in a wild-card match on Wednesday in order to meet Santa Margarita. Wilson (16-9-2, 6-5-1 Moore No. 4) is no slouch. The Bruins’ resume this season includes victories over South Coast league champion Alison Niguel, Moore league champion Millikan and Golden West league champion Saddleback, Division III’s top-seeded team, to win the Trabucco Hills tournament championship.

-- Jaime Cardenas