Mater Dei boys lacrosse edges Santa Margarita, earns first trip to CIF-SS finals

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Since the CIF Southern Section took over the boys lacrosse playoff system in 2021, Mater Dei has been eliminated by the eventual Division 1 champion every season before reaching the championship game.
Mater Dei got over the hump and reached the championship game for the first time by beating Santa Margarita 11-8 Saturday in the Division 1 semifinals at Santa Margarita High.
“We’ve had some bad bracket luck the last few years but this group is different