EASTVALE — In a matchup between last year’s CIF Southern Section Open Division and Division 1 champions, a first-year player was the difference. Freshman forward Bethany Boles scored twice in the second half as Santiago’s girls soccer team, the reigning Open Division champs, defeated Roosevelt 4-2 in the first game since both captured section titles last March. “What we did last year and what they did last year is last year,” Santiago coach Mike Fleming said. “It’s something fun for everyone to talk about but ultimately we know that they’re a quality team and it’s a good test.” Santiago Bethany Boles #3, right celebrates her second goal of the game against Roosevelt with teammate Alyssa Fernandez #7 during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Grace Gause #16 and Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 collide as they battle for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Sami Ruiz #18 head passes the ball against Roosevelt in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Avery Mendez #19 battle for the ball against Santiago Bethany Boles #3 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 battles with Roosevelt Isabelle Salazar #5 for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Alyssa Fernandez #7 scores against Roosevelt during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Alyssa Fernandez #7, left celebrates her goal against Roosevelt with teammate Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt goalkeeper Salma Jimenez #0 reacts after a Santiago goal during Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago defender Abbie Kelly #47 and Roosevelt Ireland Churchill #14 battle for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Emma Gause #8, left celebrates her goal against Santiago with teamamte Sophia Ales #26 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Alyssa Fernandez #7 fights for the ball with Roosevelt Emma Gause #8 during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Alyssa Fernandez #7 tries to control the ball against Roosevelt in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago Bethany Boles #3, left celebrates her second goal of the game against Roosevelt with teammate Alyssa Fernandez #7 during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 battles with Roosevelt Isabelle Salazar #5 for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Siena Salazar #10 looks to control the ball against Santiago in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago Bethany Boles #3 controls the ball in front of Roosevelt Grace Gause #16 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Avery Mendez #19 heads the ball over Santiago midfielder Sami Ruiz #18 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Grace Gause #16 and Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 collide as they battle for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Siena Salazar #10 passes the ball against Santiago in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt Grace Gause #16 and Santiago Kinsley Whitecavage #22 collide as they battle for the ball during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago Bethany Boles #3, left celebrates her goal with Santiago Maddy Saruwatari #17 against Roosevelt during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Santiago midfielder Alyssa Fernandez #7 battles for the ball with Roosevelt Emma Gause #8 in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Roosevelt players cover them selves from the winds after a 4-2 loss to Santiago in a Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 23Santiago Bethany Boles #3, right celebrates her second goal of the game against Roosevelt with teammate Alyssa Fernandez #7 during the Big VIII League girls soccer match in Eastvale on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand Senior midfielder Alexis Coughlin and junior midfielder Alyssa Fernandez also had goals for Santiago (11-1-1 overall, 2-0-0 in league), which has won five consecutive games. “We have a level and a standard of how we want to play, and they do also,” Fleming said. “This year we just so happen to also be champs with them.” Senior forward Siena Salazar scored first but it wasn’t enough as Roosevelt (11-3-3, 1-1-0) had its eight-match unbeaten streak come to an end on the first windy night of 2025. “It was definitely interesting and exciting that we had the Open champs versus the D1 champs on the field in a Big VIII League match,” Roosevelt coach Andrew Tillehkooh said. “You could definitely feel that energy tonight.” It’s the third consecutive win in the series for Santiago. The Sharks are 30-1-6 against Roosevelt since 2017. The Mustangs grabbed a lead midway through the first half from a free kick that was blocked and controlled by Salazar, the team captain, who surprised the crowd with a goal from distance. “Our biggest thing has been telling the girls, ‘You belong to play against anyone on the field,’” Tillehkooh said. “We have four or five girls who have the ability to strike the ball really well.” The Sharks settled in and found an equalizer less than 10 minutes later with a goal from Coughlin to get to halftime level. Fleming thought he might be looking at a repeat of three weeks ago, when Santiago went into halftime tied against San Marcos only to give up three goals in the second half in a 5-2 loss. “We had a really bad second half against San Marcos after we had tied it going into halftime, and it was one of those games you just flush,” Fleming said. “It’s something we definitely do not want to see again.” Santiago’s back line held firm long enough for Fernandez to find a breakthrough goal in the 59th minute with a left-footed curler off of the fingertips of Roosevelt junior goalkeeper Giulianna Vargas and into the inside netting. Boles then caught Roosevelt sleeping on the ensuing kickoff, stealing a pass and holding off a defender before beating Vargas one-on-one for a 3-1 lead in the 60th minute. Roosevelt fired back with a goal off the boot of junior midfielder Emma Gaush in the 70th minute, but Boles tapped in a rebound in the 77th minute to put the finishing touch on the win for Santiago. 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