Tesoro’s girls soccer team didn’t exact a full measure of revenge against No. 1 Santa Margarita, but the Titans did earn some confidence.
Santa Margarita, which beat Tesoro in two postseason championship games games a year ago, scored in the first minute of its match Thursday, but the Titans battled back to earn a draw, 1-1, in a nonleague game at Tesoro High.
“It was a fair result against what looks like the team to beat,” Tesoro coach George Deverrick said. “I’m happy with it. We played with much more desire in the second half. (Santa Margarita) controlled the first half. It was really one of those games.”
Santa Margarita (4-0-1) beat second-ranked Tesoro (3-2-1) in the CIF-SS Division 1 and Southern California Regional finals last season, and the Eagles looked like they were on their way to another win Thursday with an early strike from Dani Spensiero.
“They caught us sleeping,” Deverrick said.
Tesoro leveled the match just before halftime.
Madi Cook drove home a header off Maesyn G’Bye’s throw-in to tie the score, 1-1.
In the second half, Tesoro put pressure on the Eagles.
“We spoke at halftime that we needed to do certain things much more intense and not let them have time on the ball,” Deverrick said.
Hunter Moore drove a shot off the crossbar, and Tesoro thought it had taken the lead late in the game when it scored off a corner. The referee waved the goal off, ruling the ball went out of bounds before finding its way into the net.
Tesoro has had an up-and-down start to its season, but Deverrick was encouraged by his team’s draw against its top competition.
“I don’t pick easy games,” Deverrick said. “They’ve proved we can compete. We just need to be consistent. We are competing, from goalkeeper to forward and everywhere in between.”
In the Aliso Cup:
Aliso Niguel 3, Mission Viejo 0: The Wolverines (2-0) posted their second consecutive shutout to advance to the tournament’s Champions Cup Flight quarterfinals on Saturday.
Los Alamitos also advanced in the same bracket by defeating Troy, 2-0.
Dana Hills earned a tie at Chino Hills, 2-2, to take its pool.
Dana Hills will face San Clemente in an Aliso Cup quarterfinal Saturday, while Los Alamitos will take on Edison.