Anderson's goal helps St. Margaret's tie No. 1 Esperanza

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO- Trailing the top-ranked team in the county by a goal, St. Margaret's coach Johnny Marlmelstein enthusiastically reiterated to his team to keep attacking.
    
The Tartans rewarded their coach’s positive instructions and showed it could go toe to toe with one of the Division 1’s top teams.
    
Junior Regan Anderson scored the match-tying goal in the second half, as the Tartans and Aztecs played to a 1-1 tie in pool play of the Aliso Cup Tournament Thursday at St. Margaret’s High.
    
“It was a great team effort and we battled,” said Marmelstein. “For us to be able to score that goal against such a great team is phenomenal.”
    
Esperanza (2-0-2) took the lead less than four minutes into the match. Senior Rylee Baisden made a deep penetrating run into the attacking third and dished a perfect crossing pass into the middle of the field for junior Jill Parker who tapped a shot past Tartans junior goalie Ellie Schwartz to make it 1-0.
    
Though Esperanza managed to control possession throughout much of the first half, the Tartans defense, spurred by senior Natalie Barbaresi and junior McKenna Marmelstein helped keep them off the scoreboard.
    
The Tartans (1-0-2), who had only one shot on goal in the first half, tied the match midway into the second half. Amidst heavy defensive pressure, Tartans senior Katie Donahue dribbled deep into the attacking third and managed to get a shot off that was knocked away by Aztecs senior goalie Alyssa Giannetti. But Anderson found the rebound and slipped a shot into the back of the net.
    
Esperanza’s best scoring chance of the half came in the 69th minute, as Parker chipped a pass into the box for junior Nosa Ogiamien, whose subsequent shot when wide to the right of the goal.
    
St. Margaret’s had a late corner kick scoring opportunity inside the final five minutes of the match, but Giannetti leaped high to knock the ball away from the goal and help preserve the tie.    
    
“I love playing tough games like this one because we get to learn about ourselves,” said Aztecs coach John King. “We had moments of very good soccer in the attacking third, but we made a mistake that led to their goal and we’ll learn from that and not make the same mistake this weekend.”
    
The tournament will continue for both teams Saturday.