Saddleback rallies from a goal down for 3-1 win over San Joaquin Delta and berth in state championship game
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 3 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 1 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Saddleback | San Joaquin Delta |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 9 (5) | 9 (2) |
| Saves | 1 | 2 |
| Fouls | 11 | 10 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 5 |
| Offsides | 0 | 2 |
SACRAMENTO - Kylie Beu scored the equalizer early in the second half and then capped the game's scoring with another in the waning minutes as Saddleback College rallied for a 3-1 win over San Joaquin Delta on Friday night in the second semifinal matchup at the CCCAA Women's Soccer Championship at American River College.
The victory propels the Bobcats into an all-SoCal region state championship game on Sunday at noon against unbeaten Chaffey, which beat Fresno City, 1-0, in Friday's other semifinal. Sunday's title game will be streamed through www.cccaasports.org and www.BAOSN.tv.
Sunday's game will also be a rematch of the Panthers' and Bobcats' early-season showdown in September which went the way of Chaffey, 1-0. San Joaquin Delta ended their fantastic season with a 19-4-2 overall record.
Beu came to Saddleback's rescue less than five minutes into the second half, picking up her 12th goal of the season on a pass on the left side from Chloe Green which she chipped over goalkeeper Eden Iyall's head to make the game, 1-1. Six minutes after Alyssa Mendoza's go-ahead goal in the 78th minutes made it 2-1, Beu struck again, this time on a pass from the left from Samantha Villasenor which she brought down and shot into the back of the net.
Mendoza's eventual game-winning goal came from Green, who broke away down the left and passed to Mendoza who deposited her third goal of the season. Green's two assists gave her seven on the year.
Saddleback needed the offensive surge to counter San Joaquin Delta's powerful offensive attack which entered the game with 92 goals, second-most in the state. The Bobcats came into the semifinal with 82 goals, third in the state rankings.
The Mustangs didn't take long to strike first, getting on the scoreboard in the seventh minute when Natalie O'Sullivan tallied her ninth goal of the season off an assist from Michaela Clark. Clark passed to the ball from the right side with it sliding across to O'Sullivan just inside the box and leading to the game's first score.
San Joaquin Delta kept Saddleback scoreless in the first half, thanks to a save from Iyall and two other shots either blocked or off the mark. Saddleback was equally tough the rest of the first half, allowing just a last-second shot by Michaela Clark that was saved by Bobcats' goalkeeper Jamie-Lynne Clark.
The Mustangs got off six shots in the second half but none were on goal as Saddleback stormed back for the win.
Both teams had nine shots in the game, Clark had one save while Iyall had two.
Sunday's game guarantees a first-time state champion with both Chaffey and Saddleback looking to hoist the trophy for the first time in program history. The north and south regions have split the last four championships with SoCal holding a 26-6 lead overall.
