POWAY -- There are very few times when both teams walk away from a tie feeling good about it.

That's especially true when both teams are among the county's best girls soccer squads.

Poway High scored early, but visiting La Costa Canyon responded with 18 minutes left in the game to forge a 1-1 tie in Palomar League action on Thursday.

"Now that felt like a championship atmosphere," said Poway coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen. "We took the tie as a positive because we lost to them five times last year."

Added La Costa Canyon coach Juli Veee: "I used to be blonde and beautiful. I can't take too many more like this one."

If it wasn't for Mavericks goalie Lauren Mann, Poway (13-3-2, 1-0-1) would have mustered a few goals in the final 15 minutes after Kelly Reilly had tied the score for the Mavericks (10-1-4, 0-0-2).

Of Mann's eight saves, five were of the spectacular variety.

Sophomore Alex Webber came down the right side with a shot, but Mann's knocked the ball over the top of the goal with 8 minutes left.

Webber was back after taking a pass from Laura Hogan. She broke through two defenders, but Mann sprawled for a save with 5 minutes left.

One minute later, Mann, who will play next year at Harvard, again frustrated Webber with a diving save.

With 2 minutes left, Poway's last great chance was stopped by Mann, setting up a scoring chance by La Costa Canyon's Pat Brady in front of the Poway net. Taking a pass from Whitney Sisler, Brady's shot sailed high over the net.

"It seemed like they had an extra attacker those last few minutes," said Mann, laughing. "It seemed like they were flooding people in from everywhere.

"It was very intense the last couple of minutes. I thought this was it a few times. On most of those chances, I don't have a chance to think.

"Considering we were down 1-0 both times this week (LCC tied Rancho Bernardo 1-1 on Tuesday), getting out of this game with a tie is a good thing."

Poway scored four minutes into the game when Nicole Petracca took a corner kick from Katy Roby, turned, and laced a shot into the far corner past a diving Mann.

Roby began the scoring play by stealing the ball.

Poway goalie Elizabeth Donahue recorded five saves.

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com. To comment, go to nctimes.com.