For five years, San Clemente has been to the Southern Section Division 1 championship game in girls’ soccer.
For five years, the Tritons were the team to beat.
On Tuesday, they were.
Santa Margarita scored in the second overtime to stun San Clemente, 1-0, in the second round of the playoffs.
The Eagles got a goal from junior Taylor Klawunder, whose high arching shot hit the crossbar but made it over the goal line to launch a celebration.
McKenna Roth got the assist on the game-winner, which was played at San Clemente High.
This will mark the first time since 2007 that San Clemente has not reached the championship game. The Tritons shared the title in 2008 with Long Beach Wilson, won in 2009 against Los Alamitos, and lost in 2010 to Esperanza on penalty kicks and in 2011 and 2012 to Flintridge Sacred Heart and Aliso Niguel, respectively, by a goal.
Santa Margarita (10-5-4), though, is hoping to win its first title since 2002 when it defeated Mater Dei for the Division III title. It doesn’t figure to get any easier for the Eagles, who will play top-seeded Capistrano Valley on Thursday in a quarterfinal.
Chelsea Carey had four saves and Taylor Wulf five saves for Santa Margarita. Audrey Block had five saves for San Clemente (10-7-6).
In other Division 1 games, second round
(1) Capistrano Valley 3, Northwood 0—The Cougars (18-1-3) got five saves from Aubrie Coley and goals from Jordyn Balanto, Anne Hinman and Alex Hussar, who also contributed and assist.
Aliso Niguel 1, Edison 0—The defending champion will continue defend its title after winning at Edison. Sarah Roberts scored in the second half off an assist from Lauren Miller, and Riley Sims had 10 saves for the Wolverines (11-2-7). Edison finished 16-4-4.
(4) Villa Park 1, Laguna Hills 0—Allie Scott made 12 saves for the Hawks (6-12-5), but the one goal she allowed to Cassidy Hodson was enough to eliminate Laguna Hills.
(3) Harvard-Westlake 3, Mission Viejo 2 (OT)—Brittany Bridgford and Natalie Gonzalez scored second-half goals to wipe out a halftime deficit for Mission Viejo (10-8-2), but the Diablos surrendered an overtime goal to fall short in their upset attempt.
Esperanza 1, Corona del Mar 0—Despite six saves by Kat Hess, the Sea Queens (16-4-4) gave up a second-half goal to Nosa Ogiamein to fall to Esperanza (15-5-6).
Rancho Cucamonga 1, Dana Hills 1 (RC win on penalty kicks, 4-3)—Sydnie Zuccolotto scored the Dolphins’ only goal in regulation, and after two overtime periods, the match had to be decided by penalty kicks, where the home team finished.
In Division 5, second round
(2) St. Margaret’s 1, Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe 0—Lizzie Barbaresi scored in the first half to allow the Tartans (15-5-5) to advance.
