Gauchos earn big win over OCC

The Saddleback women's soccer team opened the second half of Orange Empire Conference play with a 2-1 win over Orange Coast College on Friday night at the Saddleback Stadium.  The win has the Gauchos moving up in the standings.

Saddleback was desperate for a win after starting the game in seventh place.  The Gauchos were also looking for revenge after falling to OCC 2-1 to start the conference schedule in mid-September.  Saddleback accomplished both goals, scoring two goals in the opening 25 minutes and hanging on for the win against an Orange Coast program that opened the day in a tie for second place.

Madie Bigcas opened the scoring in the third minute with an unassisted goal off a deflection.  It came on the heels of Bigcas missing out on a goal in the opening minute off a pass from Wendy Dina in the first 30 seconds of the game. 

Saddleback made it 2-0 in the 24^th minute off a corner kick when Alyssa Pellow (pictured) steered the ball past Pirate keeper Alison Marlow.  It was Pellow's second goal of the season and seemed to light a fire under Orange Coast.

The Pirates responded three minutes later when Lupe Rodriguez scored on a direct kick, beating Dz-Rae Jara to the corner of the net.  Rodriguez would have another chance late in the game when Saddleback was called for a foul in the box, giving Rodriguez a penalty kick in the 76^th minute.  The Pirates' leading scorer proceeded to blast the ball five feet over the net as the Gaucho fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Saddleback hung on for the win behind keeper Jara, who finished the game with seven saves.   With the win, the Gauchos moved up one spot in the standings and now stand just one point out of fifth place in OEC play.

Saddleback will have a chance to move up further in the standings next Tuesday when they host fifth place Santa Ana.  It is another game where the Gauchos will be looking for revenge after falling to the Dons 1-0 on September 15.  Game time is scheduled for 3:00 PM in the Saddleback Stadium.