Santa Margarita Goalkeeper Gets Help to Win Shootout

Erick Foss might be the best goalkeeper in the county this season, but the Santa Margarita senior could use some help during shootouts.

Foss got some much-needed advice from his coach and teammates following a 1-1 tie Thursday against sixth-ranked Capistrano Valley, then saved two penalty kicks in the ensuing shootout at the Trabuco Hills boys’ soccer tournament.

His saves helped fourth-ranked Santa Margarita win the shootout, 3-0, and advance to tonight’s championship game against La Verne Bonita, which the Eagles defeated, 4-0, in the Southern Section Division III final last season.

Santa Margarita juniors Mike Losordo and Matt Holtrust play club soccer with Capistrano Valley senior John Fincher and know his penchant for shooting for the top right corner on penalty kicks.

Losordo and Holtrust relayed that information to Foss just before the Cougars’ first attempt and Foss skillfully knocked the well-placed shot aside.

“I just jumped as high and as far as I could,” Foss said.

After Capistrano Valley’s Robert Stetina missed high on the Cougars’ second attempt, Santa Margarita Coach Curt Bauer told Foss that Jeff Serafini shot low and left during a shootout earlier in the day.

Foss guessed Serafini would try that side again and he was right, stopping the ball with his hands and winning the shootout for Santa Margarita.

“It’s the first time I’ve won a shootout since I was, like, 13,” Foss said. “This is easily the best I’ve ever done.”

In the other semifinal:

Bonita 1, Woodbridge 0--Bonita junior Pete McGrath scored on a scramble in front of the net midway through the second half.

Woodbridge, ranked second in the county, fell to 11-2-2 and will meet Capistrano Valley in today’s third-place game.

In the Marina tournament:

Dana Hills 1, Santa Barbara San Marcos 1 (Dana Hills wins on penalty kicks, 4-1)--San Marcos’ Jesus Jimenez scored in the first half but Matt DuHadway of Dana Hills tied the score with an assist by Ryan Altergott.

Lance Friesz, who had five saves, stopped two of San Marcos’ penalty kicks to seal the semifinal victory.

In a quarterfinal game, Dana Hills, ranked eighth in the county, shut out No. 1 Mater Dei, 1-0. Tyler Kastorff scored the winning goal for the Dolphins with less than a minute left in the match.

Dana Hills (11-1-2) will play Long Beach Millikan today at 1 p.m. in the championship at Marina High.