Mater Dei unable to wrap up Trinity championship

SANTA MARGARITA - On the final play of the game, Nick Velasquez sent the ball flying toward Santa Margarita's goal. And for a few nerve wracking seconds, the Mater Dei boys soccer team watched.

If it goes in the net, the Monarchs would win the Trinity League championship.

But Grayson Cornwell was there to make the save for the host Eagles. The referee blew his whistle. And Tuesday's game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Because JSerra beat St. John Bosco, 2-0, on Tuesday, the Lions (18-4-2, 7-2-0) are just two points behind the Monarchs (16-1-7, 7-0-2) with one game remaining.

On Thursday the Lions will play host to Servite, while St. John Bosco travels to Mater Dei.

"I am sick of it (the championship race)," Mater Dei coach Andy Thomas said. "I just want to get out of it."

For a moment, it looked as if the Monarchs were going to wrap it up Tuesday. In the 45th minute, Kyle MacLeod used a couple of his teammates to screen Cornwell, and he rolled a 30-yard free kick into the goal.

The Monarchs' lead lasted less than one minute, however, as Cullen Berry lifted the ball over Paul Elias' arms as the Mater Dei senior goalkeeper fell to his knees on the rain-slicked turf.

Santa Margarita dominated this game, and it could have taken the lead a couple of times in the first half, but Mater Dei defender Andy Stevenson was there both times to preserve the scoreless tie.

In the 10th minute, Santa Margarita midfielder Christian Thierjung sent a perfect cross into the box to Curran O'Connor, who headed the ball into the turf. And just when it looked liked the ball was going to bounce into the goal, Setvenson kicked it away. Five minutes later, Berry took a shot from the box in the pouring rain, but Stevenson was there once again.

"Santa Margarita did a better job dealing with the conditions than we did. They kept possession better," Thomas said. "They are a much improved team, and a tie was fair today, I think."

The Monarchs had some near-misses like in the first three minutes of the second half when Connor Hall sent a high arcing shot toward the goal. Cornwell made a leaping save, deflecting the ball with his fingertips. However, he knocked it towards the crossbar, causing the ball to richochet back to the ground in front of the goal. Luckily for the Eagles, it rolled out for a corner kick.

Mater Dei was missing a key part of its offense. Josh Corona had to sit the game out after picking up a red card when the Monarchs beat Santa Margarita, 3-2, on Saturday.