Maag Gets Job Done for El Toro

Santa Margarita junior Erin Regan is probably the most highly touted goalkeeper in Orange County girls’ soccer. But Thursday she took a back seat to El Toro’s Jaclyn Maag, who helped seal a 0-0 tie in a Sea View League game at Santa Margarita High.

Maag, a junior, who splits time with senior starter Melody Derloshon, played the second half and recorded seven saves, including three that looked like sure goals.

“She was the difference in the game, and she was definitely up to the threats,” Santa Margarita Coach Chuck Morales said.

After a first half with little offensive effort by either team, the second half was a shootout with the teams combining for 26 shots.

No. 7 Santa Margarita (6-4-3, 2-0-1), ranked sixth in Division II and tied for first in league with Woodbridge, immediately came out pressing in the second half. In the first minute, freshman Jenny Anderson knocked a shot over Maag, who leaped, tipping it over the goal.

A minute later, the Eagles received a penalty kick, which Anderson drilled into a lower corner. Maag made a diving save to her left. One final save came at the end of the game when Maag grabbed another Anderson shot and, after falling and dropping the ball in front of the net, she dived and recovered it before sophomore Erin Egertson could kick it.

Not to be outdone, No. 9 El Toro (7-4-2, 1-1-1), which fell into third place in league after an 3-0 loss to Woodbridge on Tuesday, put up a strong attack late in the second half. Junior midfielder Lauren Orlandos got eight second-half shots, including three free kicks, all of which Regan stopped.

“We played as good as we could. They came off the field with nothing left,” El Toro Coach Kevin Otsuji said. “Our idea coming in was if they beat us, they were going to have to beat every single one of us. They couldn’t do it.”