Bobcats maul Hawks for OEC lead

The Saddleback women's soccer team defeated Santiago Canyon College, 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon in Orange.  With the win, the Bobcats are now in sole possession of first place in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC).

The game was billed as one of the biggest games of the year so far as both squads entered with identical records in conference play and tied atop the standings.  It turned out to be a lopsided affair as the Bobcats blew out the Hawks, thus grabbing ahold of the conference lead at the midway point of the conference schedule.

Saddleback scored twice in the opening eight minutes as Emma Radzai scored an unassisted goal in the third minute and Chloe Green (pictured) scored off a pass from Mazey Kasberg in the 8^th minute.  It was Green's team-leading 20^th goal of the season and moved her into third in the state in goals. 

Saddleback then received a gift in the 22^nd minute when Santiago Canyon put the ball in their own net to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead.

Santiago Canyon tallied its lone goal of the game in the 25^th minute when Kristen Smick scored to cut the lead to 3-1.  The Bobcats didn't flinch, scoring two more times in the half as Kasberg scored unassisted and Emery Simis scored off a pass from Alyssa Sims for a 5-1 lead in the 43^rd minute.

Saddleback added one more goal in the second half as Abby Grabowski recorded a goal in the 82^nd minute to add insult to injury.

Saddleback is now 12-0-1 overall and 6-0-1 in OEC play following the win.  The Bobcats will get no rest as they now host Cypress College on Friday at 3:00 PM.  Cypress represents the lone mini-blemish on the schedule so far when they tied the Bobcats (2-2) back on September 26.

Game Notes:  The Bobcats have now gone 20 games without losing.  The last time Saddleback lost a game was on November 4 of last season.  Saddleback had its shutout streak snapped in the opening half, ending the streak at 489 minutes.