Santa Margarita overwhelms Rosary in Trinity opener

With a dominant first-half performance in its Trinity League girls soccer opener, No. 10 Santa Margarita made an emphatic statement that its struggles are in the past.

Four Eagles scored goals in the first half, and sophomore Lauren Bohaboy added two more second-half goals as the Eagles rolled to a 6-2 victory over Rosary on Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton.

“We’ve been much more focused and have increased our intensity,” said Bohaboy, the Eagles' leading scorer. “Our goal is to come to win every game.”

After winning only one of its first six games, the Eagles have now won five of their past nine.

“I thought we played well as a team in the first half,” said Eagles coach Chuck Morales. “We have good players and it’s a matter just meshing together.”

The Eagles (6-5-4) went ahead less than five minutes into the game. Senior Lauren Edwards uncorked a shot from more than 20 yards out that bounced over the head of the Rosary goalie and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles scored three goals in the last 20 minutes of the half to take control. Sophomore Ari Bruno’s twisting shot from just outside the box found the top corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Moments later, a nifty pass from Bruno to the front of the net helped set up fellow sophomore Gabby Ozer, whose shot bounced into the goal, increasing the lead to 3-0.

Then with time winding down in the half, senior Jessie Gatfield capped the run with a hard shot into the net to make it 4-0.

Bohaboy got into the act in the second half, as she scored off a header from junior Ashley Kotero to make it 5-0. She then capped the Eagles scoring by knocking a loose ball into the net for her team leading 10th goal of the season.

The Royals (7-4-3) got second-half goals from sophomore Chelsea Patterson and senior Lauren Olvera.

“We made too many mistakes that they were able to capitalize on today,” Royals coach John Alexander said. “We have to do a better job on the defensive side.”

In other nonleague girls soccer:

Canyon 3, Foothill 1: Sarena Granados and Alana Mitchem each scored in the final 10 minutes as the Comanches pulled out the victory at Fred Kelly Stadium.

The Knights tied it at 1 on Mary Spiegelberg's goal in the 69th minute.

Canyon led, 1-0, at halftime on freshman Taylor Alderete's goal. Alderete also assisted on the final two scores.

"She's a stud," Canyon coach Walter Camargo said of Alderete. "Every time she touches the ball, I feel like we can score." - Chris Tobolski

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com