REDONDO BEACH – Mission Viejo’s boys team and St. Margaret’s girls squad brought home U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Division 2 titles Saturday at Redondo Union,
Mission Viejo rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Loyola of Los Angeles, 7-5.
Several hundred Mission Viejo supporters stayed around for the final game of the day and were able to celebrate with the team.
Mission Viejo (13-8) was led by Spencer Taylor and Ian Nickel, who scored two goals each.
The Diablos led, 5-2, at halftime but Loyola made it close in the fourth quarter closing the gap to 7-5 with 7:25 left, but the Diablos were able to hold on for the victory.
“It was far from our best game, but we got it done,” Mission Viejo coach Ryan Brent said. “Two games in three days and two plaques (for winning the South and Southern Section titles.)
“I’m happy for the kids. It’s a great win for us.”
Mission Viejo captured the Division I South Division 2 title on Thursday, defeating Dana Hills, 13-12, in overtime.
The St. Margaret’s girls team also had plenty to celebrate after a 17-14 victory over Cate School of Carpenteria in the first game of the day Saturday.
It is the first Division 2 title for St. Margaret’s, which won the Division I crown in 2008.
“It feels really good. The girls worked really hard all season,” St. Margaret’s coach Summer Crabtree said. “We have a lot of new players, and I felt that at the start of this tournament, they really started to gel and they were peaking at the right time and they started working well together on and off the field.
“Everybody contributed to this, not just the girls who were on the field.”
Emily Boone scored nine goals, one shy of her career high, and Regan Anderson scored five goals and had one assist for the Tartans. Alena Riggs had two goals and two assists for the Tartans (11-9 overall).
Goalie Julia Alvarez had 13 saves.
