Tartans Top Capistrano Valley in Girls D2 Final

After St. Margaret’s Emily Boone scored six goals in the first half, including four consecutive goals over a five-minute stretch, Capistrano Valley knew it had to slow down the senior midfielder if it had any hopes of winning the match. Through the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Cougars did just that by limiting Boone to only one shot and one goal to get back in the game.

But Boone's final goal for St. Margaret’s with 3:51 left proved to be the game-winner as the third-seeded Tartans upset top-seeded Capistrano Valley, 13-12, Thursday afternoon to capture the US Lacrosse Southern Section Orange County Division 2 Championship at Aliso Niguel High.

For the Tartans (10-9) it was their second county championship, with the first being a Division 1 title in 2008. The Tartans will also be competing for their second Southern Section Championship title when they meet Cate, the Los Angeles Division 2 girls champion, on Saturday at Redondo Union High School (11 a.m.).

Boone is one of five seniors who played on the 2008 championship team, so the final game Saturday will bookend a fabulous career for the USC-bound student-athlete.

“Our freshmen started with a championship and they ended with a championship,” Tartans coach Summer Crabtree said. “Emily is one of the most consistent players I could have had. She’s one of the players I’m going to miss a lot next year.”

Boone finished with eight goals and junior Alena Riggs added five for the Tartans.

Capistrano Valley (15-6) trailed, 8-5, at halftime but stayed in the game behind the scoring of sophomore captain Ally Hadley, who scored three of her five goals in the second half, and freshman sensation Riley Eggeman, who had four goals. After Boone’s last goal, the Cougars scored on goals by Hadley and Courtney Smith with 1:38 remaining, but they could never tie or get the lead against St. Margaret’s.

Tartans sophomore goalie Julia Alvarez earned the start against the Cougars and came up with seven saves. But it was her point-blank save on a shot attempt by Emily Mcgrath with 40 seconds remaining and her steal in the closing seconds that saved the victory for St. Margaret's.

“That was the key moment,” Crabtree agreed. “It’s a lot of pressure for the goalie, with the mask and everything, but to make a big play at the end of the game says a lot about her.”

Despite the loss, Cougars coach Ryan Gustafson was upbeat about his team. Two years ago the Cougars were 1-14, but competing for a title against a former, and now current, county champion represented a major turnaround for the program.

“I’m proud of the girls and how they came back and made a game out of it. I definitely can’t complain about it,” Gustafson said. “We just came out on the wrong side. The future is bright. I’m excited about where Capistrano lacrosse is going.”