Orange Empire Conference teams tied atop CCCSIA women's soccer rankings with Cypress and Santiago Canyon

SAN BERNARDINO - And now, things get interesting.

With many conferences beginning play across the state over the next few days, the weekly CCCSIA women’s soccer poll is beginning to get crowded on the top.

Defending state champion Santiago Canyon and their Orange Empire Conference rival open the week tied atop the poll, with Cypress getting three first place votes to the Hawks’ two. Santiago Canyon was the only one of the two active last week, as it beat No. 12 Antelope Valley 4-0 last Tuesday. The two teams will meet for the first time Oct. 15.

Las Positas remains a steady No. 3 pick in the poll of state sports information professionals, just four points behind the two on top, while also receiving three first-place votes. Las Positas will get an early challenge in Coast Conference North play as it will take on No. 6 City College of San Francisco on Friday.

The Big 8 Conference’s San Joaquin Delta got the last first-place vote, allowing them to flip spots with Saddleback in this week’s poll, with the Bobcats falling to No. 5 behind Delta. Both teams remain undefeated on the season, with San Joaquin Delta starting the week 7-0-0, with Saddleback at 6-0-0.

Folsom Lake, Rio Hondo, Taft and Ventura rounded out the top 10.

The bottom half of the poll saw some major shakeups, with San Bernardino Valley jumping into the top 20 at a tie for No. 15, while its Inland Empire Athletic Conference rival, Chaffey, moved up three spots to No. 13. Those two teams will meet for the first time this season Friday afternoon at Chaffey. The Wolverines opened IEAC play beating Cerro Coso 6-0, while Chaffey beat Norco 4-0 last Friday.

(Bill Norris, CCCSIA)