Gauchos start with third straight shutout

The Saddleback women's soccer team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 3-0 shutout at MiraCosta College on Tuesday in Oceanside.  The Gauchos have outscored opponents 10-0 to start the season.

Saddleback last started with three straight shutouts in 2015 when they started the season 7-0-1.  Although they are still a ways away from that goal, they have shown their mastery over the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference for a third straight game and have outscored PCAC programs 10-0 in the process.

Melissa Benitez (pictured) opened the scoring with her first goal of the season in the 30^th minute off a pass from Caitlin Dolan to give Saddleback a 1-0 lead.  The Gauchos wasted no time in increasing the lead to 2-0 when Dolan fed Julia Lawson for her first goal of the season in the 37^th minute.  It was Dolan's fifth assist of the season, which is a great sign for the sophomore who led Santiago Canyon College in assists two years ago.  Saddleback put some icing on the cake in the 88^th minute when Mackenzie Stapinski fed Marisa Covarrubias for her second goal of the season.

Jolie Moore completed a third straight shutout between the pipes for Saddleback, stopping five shots along the way.

Saddleback plays another Pacific Coast Athletic Conference team when it travels to San Diego Mesa College on Thursday.  The Gauchos and Olympians are set to start at 7:00 PM in San Diego.