Any thought that the Santa Margarita girls soccer team would have a letdown after winning a CIF-SS championship lasted for about five minutes Tuesday.
Much like in the Division 1 championship game on Saturday, the Eagles pounced on their opponent early, then coasted the rest of the way.
Heather Walleigh and Kassidy Gorman scored a goal apiece in the game’s first five minutes to lead Santa Margarita to a 5-2 rout of the CIF-SS Division 2 runner-up, Hart of Santa Clarita, in a CIF Southern California Division 2 regional first-round game at Santa Ana Stadium.
“I thought we blew the (Hart) backline’s shorts off,” Eagles coach Chuck Morales said. “I don’t think they expected that. We made it so easy, and we caught them flat, and you can’t recover. It was a good performance.”
After the Eagles built a two-goal lead, Machaela George got into the scoring action in the 18th minute to put her team ahead, 3-0.
The lead was 3-1 at the break, but George added the team’s fourth goal in the 51st minute.
Walleigh’s first goal set the tone, but her passing set up George’s goals nicely throughout the game.
“I love to assist goals, it’s kind of a thing I like to do,” Walleigh said. “I almost feel more satisfied when I lay a great ball off to someone who can finish than if I (score) myself.”
Eight minutes after George’s second goal, Taylor Klawunder scored for the second time in as many games to put the Indians (18-6-4) down by four goals.
With the win, Santa Margarita (16-3-4) advances to face top-seeded Cathedral Catholic of San Diego on Thursday. The Dons enjoyed their own runaway win in the first round with an 8-0 victory against St. Joseph’s of Lakewood.
“Thursday is going to be tough one, real tough,” Morales said.
In Division 1:
Torrey Pines 4, Edison 1: The Chargers (12-7-4), who were again without Mackenzie Cerda, who was injured in the CIF-SS semifinals, lost to the Falcons (23-2-1) at Torrey Pines.
Tatiana Moreno scored for Edison.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
