Gauchos zap the Hornets

The Saddleback women's soccer team won their straight game with a 2-1 victory against Fullerton College on Tuesday at the OC Great Park in Irvine.  The Gauchos trailed 1-0 before rallying for the win.

Saddleback and Fullerton were dead even for most of the afternoon, with the teams trading shots and scoring opportunities while playing to a 1-1 stalemate for the first 85 minutes.  The Gauchos then broke through with a goal in the 86^th minute to zap the Hornets for a second time this season.

Fullerton scored in the 17^th minute when Kaelah Basurto snuck one past Saddleback keeper Lehar Chawla for a 1-0 lead.  Saddleback answered in the 30^th minute when Paige Vitolo took a deflection inside the box and blasted it by the Fullerton keeper.

The teams traded opportunities for the next 55 minutes, with Saddleback missing a number of breakaway opportunities and Chawla making a number of good saves on the other end.

Saddleback finally got the game-winner when Vitolo chased down a loose ball in the box and managed to slip past the keeper for an easy score.  It was Vitolo's second goal of the game and her 11^th of the year, tying her with Maliyah Medley for the team lead. 

Saddleback's win vaults the Gauchos into sole possession of third place in the Orange Empire Conference standings, and just one point out of second place.  Saddleback will attempt to get a fourth straight win on Friday when they travel to Orange Coast College.  The Gauchos and Pirates are scheduled to start at 3:00 PM in Costa Mesa.