PREP SOCCER ROUNDUP : Santa Margarita, Corona del Mar Splash Way to 1-1 Tie

What was billed as a boys’ soccer showdown between two undefeated teams--top-ranked Santa Margarita and No. 4 Corona del Mar--often resembled a water polo match.

The teams splashed and sloshed their way to a 1-1 tie in an appropriately named Sea View League game Friday afternoon at Santa Margarita High School.

Approximately 3 1/2 inches of rain fell in Rancho Santa Margarita during Thursday’s storm, and Friday’s intermittent showers added to the quagmire.

Santa Margarita (10-0-2, 0-0-1 in league) escaped with the tie on Kevin Cimini’s header off an assist from Josh Keller with 5 minutes 35 seconds remaining.

Corona del Mar (10-0-3, 1-0-1) had problems getting any shots against the Eagles’ defense, which had allowed only five goals all season. But the Sea Kings broke the scoreless deadlock on Jed Weinstein’s penalty kick with 33:34 left in the second half.

Weinstein faked right and kicked the ball to the left of Santa Margarita goalie Matt Reis for a 1-0 lead.