Rain doesn't slow down Saddleback as Bobcats claim program's first CCCAA Women's Soccer Championship
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Saddleback | Chaffey |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 12 (4) | 9 (2) |
| Saves | 2 | 2 |
| Fouls | 10 | 7 |
| Corner Kicks | 5 | 1 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
SACRAMENTO - All season, the Saddleback College women’s soccer team has had to scratch and claw to get respect for its success.
Playing in the Orange Empire Conference with last year’s state runner-up Cypress and perennial power Santiago Canyon, the Bobcats were seen as the outlier by many observers around the state.
But, in the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs, the Bobcats beat their two conference foes to reach the state semifinals at American River College in Sacramento. There, as the No. 2 team from Southern California, Saddleback fell behind in the first seven minutes to San Joaquin Delta, before picking up three second half goals to advance to Sunday’s final against undefeated Chaffey College.
Sunday, the Bobcats again used a big second half to win the state championship, handing Chaffey its only loss of the season, 2-0 on a rain-soaked and lightning-delayed game.
The first half was a tightly played battle between the two teams that slowed down as rain started to pelt the field. Chaffey had the only two shots registered on goal in the first 45, as neither team was able to generate much in the offensive end.
The start of the second half was delayed for 75 minutes as lightning was spotted in the area. And the delay helped Saddleback more than it did Chaffey. The Bobcats picked up the pressure, earning four corners and making Gomez make two saves.
Saddleback finally broke through in the 72nd minute. The Bobcats quickly countered on the Panthers, but Chaffey turned away the first wave of the attack, clearing the ball only as far as Averee Campos. She lofted the ball about 30 yards to the top of the 6-yard box, where Kylie Beu outjumped defender Vanessa Aviles in front of goalkeeper Autumn Gomez, heading the ball toward the goal. The ball bounced into the goal just before it could be cleared off the line by Rosalie Hawkins.
The Bobcats closed the door on Chaffey late in the game. Working the clock by holding the ball near the corner of Chaffey’s end, Alexa Guzman tripped up Samantha Villasenor. Zoe Chung drove the free kick from just in front of the corner flag and into the net to make it 2-0.
The Bobcats had two other chances to open the scoring earlier in the second half. In the 60th minute. Chaffey was whistled for a foul about 22 yards from goal. Chloe Green blasted a shot that Gomez juggled and fell to the ground. Players for both teams tried to get their foot on the ball, but Gomez dove into the mud to cover the ball.
Three minutes later, Lizbeth De Loera sent a long ball up the middle that Beu was able to flick past a charging Gomez toward the goal. The ball rolled toward the vacated goal, but Aviles outraced Beu to the ball just in front of the goal, clearing the ball out of play.
In between, Chaffey had its own good look. A throw-in deep in the Saddleback end fell to Aviles, who crossed the ball into the box. The ball bounded down to the feet of Julia Galdamez, who fired the ball just to the left of the goal.
The championship was the first in school history for the Saddleback women’s soccer team, and the school’s first championship in any sport since 2015.
(Bill Norris, CCCSIA)
