Santa Margarita snapped a 1-1 tie with two goals in the final 10 minutes on Wednesday, knocking Santa Barbara from the CIF Division 1 playoffs in a 3-1 second-round game.
The final two goals came on the end of throw-ins by Santa Margarita.
It was a scoreless first half before Santa Margarita gained a 1-0 advantage in the 49th minute on a goal by Jake Fisher, a Cal State Fullerton recruit.
“He’s the one guy you don’t want to let loose in our box and we let him loose in our box,” said Dons head coach Todd Heil.
Santa Barbara came back to tie in the 55th minute. Sophomore Juan Zarate punched home a ball inside the penalty area that was serviced by Jorge Garcia Torres.
The Eagles went ahead 2-1 in the 70th minute and 3-1 in the 78th. It was the second-straight year that the Dons have lost in the second round of CIF at Santa Margarita.
Santa Barbara finishes its season with a record of 17-5-4. The Dons lose six seniors to graduation but return central midfielder Brandon Sanchez and a group of seven sophomores who played big minutes this season.
“I’m proud of boys,” Heil said. “It’s tough to score on road; I’m proud of them for coming back and not giving up.”
