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Familiar finish as Santa Margarita girls soccer beats Santiago for CIF-SS Open Division title

March 1, 2025

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ORANGE — Santa Margarita’s girls soccer team arrived Friday at its third consecutive CIF-SS championship match with a familiar drive honed in the Trinity League. Yet as the Eagles took the pitch against a growing rival, the uniqueness of their trek could be spotted.

Sophomore Kayla Burmood, who played most of the season on junior varsity, started at goalkeeper. Sophomore Felicity Nguyen and freshman Ella Bott took their spots in the midfield. And freshman Reagan Condon joined the back line.

Santa Margarita showed its depth and developmental skills as much as any other element as it faced Corona Santiago for the Open Division title for the second consecutive season.

Forward Cora Fry had two goals and an assist and Jastel David and Nguyen added one goal apiece as the Eagles beat the Sharks 4-2 at El Modena High for their record ninth section championship.

Santa Margarita’s Jastel David, center, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against Santiago/Corona in the CIF-SS Open Division girls soccer championship in Orange on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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If the four goals in a premier division final weren’t impressive enough, Santa Margarita (17-1-3) delivered the output playing without injured starter Mia Corona (ankle).

“It’s a conveyer belt,” Eagles coach Craig Bull said of his program. “We literally have so many good kids. Look, the injuries happen. I’m sure they’ve got injuries, too. Everyone deals with it this time of year. My mentality is always next man up.”

“Even with the injuries,” the third-year coach added, “I felt confident going in. We’ve got better and better as the season has gone on.”

Fry, a junior committed to Tennessee, scored twice in the second half, including a critical strike with about seven minutes left in regulation.

Following a throw-in, Fry controlled the ball just outside the corner of the penalty box before turning and unleashing a right-footed shot into the far corner for a spectacular goal and 4-2 lead.

“You’re never going to score if you don’t take a shot,” Fry said of the goal. “I’ve done that (shot) before but I could feel in warmups that my shots were on point. I was super hyper, ready for this game.”

Bull called Fry’s goal “very special.”

“She’s a special player, and special players step up in a big moments,” the coach. “Cora did it today but we’ve had it from everyone.”

The strike from Fry answered Santiago’s second goal off a corner kick moments earlier.

Fry scored her first goal about 11 minutes into the second half by finishing a counterattack sparked by a lead pass by senior Emily Davey.

Santa Margarita’s offense heated up quickly in the first half. David, a junior committed to Utah, scored on a counterattack in the 18th minute after senior defender Natalie Leon cleared a corner kick to save a goal.

About one minute later, Nguyen netted her team-leading 22nd goal off an assist by Fry as the Eagles opened a 2-0 lead.

Last season, Santa Margarita lost to Santiago 2-0 in the Open Division final but toppled the Sharks the following week for the CIF Southern California Regional Division I crown.

For the Eagles, the road back to the section final came by blending five full-time returning staters with several fresh faces.

In the case of goalkeeper, the adjustments have been unexpected the last several weeks.

Burmood entered the lineup for freshman Kaitlin Crossett, who suffered a wrist injury on Tuesday, Bull said.

Crossett emerged as Santa Margarita’s goalie after junior Peyton Trayer lost her eligibility in a midseason controversy involving several of the top players in the Southern Section. Trayer, who is committed to reigning NCAA champion North Carolina, became ineligible for participating in a camp in Brazil sponsored by the Kansas City Current.

Trayer’s heroics, especially in penalty kicks, helped the Eagles claim the CIF-SS Division 1 title in 2023 and two regional crowns.

Burmood delivered five saves against Santiago (21-3-2).

“I don’t know if we ever had any doubts,” Fry said. “Yes, with the Trayer situation and some players we lost, we knew it would be difficult. But we just knew if we all played to the best of our abilities and played together, we will win.”

Nguyen’s rise softened the loss of two-time Orange County player of the year Faith George. Now a freshman at USC, George led Santa Margarita in scoring the past two seasons.

Condon teamed on the back line with Leon, Sadie Recupero and Emma Newman.

“I think this is the best team we’ve had (in my tenure),” Bull said, “and that’s hard to say considering what the previous two years teams have had.”

“This year’s team is so clinical. Four goals in a final. That just doesn’t normally happen,” the coach added. “Credit to the forwards. Today, they won us the game.”

Both teams are expected to play in the regional playoffs next week.

Familiar finish as Santa Margarita girls soccer beats Santiago for CIF-SS Open Division title Orange County Register

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Familiar finish as Santa Margarita girls soccer beats Santiago for CIF-SS Open Division title

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