St. Augustine boys soccer advances to semifinals with playoff win

Three-time defending champions defeat Eastlake 4-0 to continue quest for fourth straight title

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The St. Augustine High School boys soccer team, the three-time reigning Open Division champions, defeated No. 6 seed Eastlake 4-0 in the first round of the CIF San Diego Section's Open Division playoffs. The Saints, seeded No. 3 overall, will advance to face the winner between No. 2 Torrey Pines and No. 7 Helix in the semifinals as they pursue a fourth consecutive championship.

Why it matters

St. Augustine has established itself as the dominant boys soccer program in San Diego County, winning the last three Open Division titles. The team's continued success in the playoffs is a source of pride for the school and the local community, and a fourth straight championship would cement the Saints' status as one of the top high school soccer teams in the state.

The details

The Saints controlled the match from the start, scoring four unanswered goals. Dominic Calero opened the scoring in the 7th minute, followed by a goal from Carson Prahl off a corner kick in the 17th minute. Michael Gonzalez made it 3-0 in the 20th minute, and Prahl added another goal in the 24th minute to cap the scoring.

  • The first-round playoff match was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • St. Augustine had previously defeated Eastlake 5-1 in the first leg of the two-match series.

The players

Brendan Johnson

The head coach of the St. Augustine boys soccer team, who has led the Saints to three consecutive Open Division championships.

Dominic Calero

A player for St. Augustine who scored the opening goal in the 7th minute.

Kirin Beckhaus

A St. Augustine player who provided the assist on the team's second goal, scored by Carson Prahl off a corner kick.

Carson Prahl

A St. Augustine player who scored two goals in the match, one off a corner kick and another in the 24th minute.

Michael Gonzalez

A St. Augustine player who scored the team's third goal in the 20th minute.

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What they’re saying

“Even when you're up 5-1 coming into the match, you still don't feel safe. To get those early goals, it really opened the game up for us.”

— Brendan Johnson, Head Coach, St. Augustine (sandiegouniontribune.com)

“Dominic did a nice job of letting that ball just roll by him and finishing it to the far post. The guys did a good job of finishing the chances that we had today.”

— Brendan Johnson, Head Coach, St. Augustine (sandiegouniontribune.com)

“We've worked on those balls to the back post a lot. I just stuck my knee out. I didn't know I was going to get a piece of it or anything, but I'll take it. A goal is a goal.”

— Carson Prahl, Player, St. Augustine (sandiegouniontribune.com)

“I think we've got a ton of momentum right now. We've come in and scored a lot of goals every game, and while we know our next game is going to be tough, we know what's at stake, and we are ready for the challenge. We want to go out and win another championship.”

— Carson Prahl, Player, St. Augustine (sandiegouniontribune.com)

What’s next

The Saints will face the winner of the match between No. 2 Torrey Pines and No. 7 Helix in the Open Division semifinals.

The takeaway

St. Augustine's continued dominance in the playoffs demonstrates the program's commitment to excellence and the community's pride in their success. The team's quest for a fourth straight Open Division championship is a testament to their hard work and determination, and a source of inspiration for young soccer players in the region.