Santa Margarita Beats Woodbridge

Third-ranked Woodbridge had an opportunity to deliver a staggering blow to league-favorite Santa Margarita’s title chances Friday. But the Warriors landed only a few grazing jabs and lost to an inspired Santa Margarita team, 2-1, in last game of the Sea View League’s first round.

“They were a desperate team today and they played like it,” Woodbridge Coach Jon Szczuka said of the Eagles.

Seventh-ranked Santa Margarita (11-3-3, 3-2) had fallen four spots in the polls last week and was near the bottom of the six-team league when the week began. But the Eagles are now tied with Woodbridge (12-1-6, 2-1-2), which had given up only four goals all season and had 14 shutouts.

“I think this loss will actually help them; it takes the pressure off them,” Santa Margarita Coach Curt Bauer said. “It’s so hard to go through a season undefeated. They’ll probably be a new team now.”

Nine Eagle starters remained from last year’s Southern Section Division III championship team and five of those figure to get Division I college scholarships.

Santa Margarita had one more talented player than usual. Forward Norman Giroux, a transfer from Mater Dei, played his first game in nearly two years Friday. Giroux sat out last season after transferring and missed the first 16 games this season because of an ankle injury. In the second half, he whistled two shots wide of the goal.

The Eagles scored first with 13 minutes left in half on a free kick by Nick Sparks, his fourth of the season. They took a 2-0 lead on Ryan Coiner’s breakaway goal with 11 minutes left in the game. Woodbridge sweeper Saul Wolf scored on a penalty kick that was tipped by goalkeeper Byron Foss.

In other league games:

El Toro 3, Corona del Mar 0--Julian Gaitan’s goal four minutes into the game was the difference for El Toro. Wes Sjobom and Ryan Teramoto added the other goals for the Chargers (7-8-1, 3-1-1).

Newport Harbor 2, Irvine 2--Tommy Barrow scored on a penalty kick with two minutes left to play to tie the score for Irvine. Matt Taylor scored for the Vaqueros (7-4-3, 2-2-1).

Zack Wells and Kevin Burns each scored for Newport Harbor (4-3-3, 2-1-2).