San Marcos went on an 8-0 run in the first 19 minutes against Santa Barbara at Peabody Stadium Friday, going on to a 16-4 Channel League win.
Royals sophomore attacker KC Springer led all scorers with four goals and one assist. Santa Barbara was led by senior Alannah Cetti with two goals and an assist.
San Marcos secured one of the Channel League’s automatic qualifier spots in the CIF-SS playoffs. The Royals are 5-7 overall and 4-3 in league play and hosts Cate on Monday. Santa Barbara plays at Dos Pueblos on Tuesday.
“We played loose and fast tonight,” said San Marcos coach Paul Ramsey, “and it made for some good-looking offense, but it was the ground ball game getting to the loose balls that gave us so much possession time. I really liked our hustle and enthusiasm.”
Ramsey also praised Santa Barbara’s Cetti.
“Alannah goes all out every play, and she is a handful,” he said. “It’s a tempo that makes you lean forward on your seat as a spectator because you want to see what’s next.”