Division 2: El Toro falls in overtime thriller

El Toro's girls water polo team chased Santiago of Corona for four periods of regulation and two periods of overtime in the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals Saturday.

The Chargers caught the third-seeded Sharks a few times but couldn't pass them in a wild race for a spot in the semifinals.

Santiago scored three goals in the overtime to hold off El Toro, 17-16, in a match that featured four ties in the second half and a dramatic final 30 seconds of the fourth period.

El Toro senior Nicole Browning tossed in a buzzer-beat from about 9 meters at the end of the fourth to tie the score, 14-14.

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Santiago (25-5) dropped off Browning at times earlier in the match but her cross-cage floater glanced off the crossbar and the top of the side post before finding the upper corner.

"It was a beautiful shot," Santiago coach Ty Hudson said.

But Santiago opened a 17-15 lead in midway through the second overtime period and held on to advance to Wednesday's semifinal in Irvine against second-seeded Montebello, a 7-5 winner at Mater Dei.

"Both teams really wanted it," Browning said of the match. "This is my favorite game all year. ... I think we played well as a team."

Santiago opened a 5-2 lead after the first period but El Toro tied the score, 6-6, at halftime. Justine Morgan scored three of her match-high five goals in second to spark sixth-seeded El Toro (20-11).

But each time El Toro tied the score, Santiago continued to push its attack. The Sharks, who never trailed, also overcame the loss of starters Sierra Smiley and Lexi Morabito to fouls in the third period.

Santiago's Hanna Anderson scored a rebound goal with 19 seconds left in the fourth period to give the Sharks a 14-13 lead.

The Sharks went 4 for 10 on the power play; El Toro went 5 for 11.

"All and all, we played a great game," El Toro coach Racc Julson said. "We had our opportunities and we didn't close the deal."

In other Division 2 quarterfinals:

San Clemente 12, Santa Margarita 9: The top-seeded Tritons (22-5) scored six goals in the third to open a five-goal lead and held on to reach their second consecutive semifinal. Candyce Schroeder and Kelsey Thornton each finished with three goals for San Clemente while goalie Kayla Colapinto added 13 saves.

Schroeder scored twice during the key third period surge.

In the semifinals, San Clemente will play Long Beach Wilson, which stunned fourth-seeded Agoura, 10-7, at Westlake.

Montebello 7, Mater Dei 5: Letty Perez made 16 saves, including a four against the Monarchs' 2-for-7 power play, to lead the visiting Oilers (22-7). Mater Dei's leading scorer, Mackenzie Barr, fouled out with 5:35 left in the third.

"The girls fought," Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman said. "I'm proud of them."

The Trinity League champions scored the first goal of the match but didn't lead again.

"They are just faster than us and move better," Segesman said. "We're young. ... The future looks bright if they keep progressing and working hard."

Said Montebello coach David Keys of Mater Dei, which started one senior, "They're going to be really good next year and the year after."

Montebello went 4 for 6 on the power play. And on their 5 on 6 defense, the Oilers held Mater Dei without a shot in two chances in the fourth period.

Perez made one of her saves when Mater Dei had a 6 on 4 chance in the second period.