Gauchos draw with Orange Coast in OEC opener

The Saddleback women's soccer team opened the Orange Empire Conference schedule with a 2-2 tie against Orange Coast College on Tuesday at OCC.  The Gauchos led 2-0 before the Pirates came storming back on a day when rain forced a change on venues.

Saddleback was supposed to play its first home game of the year but was forced to go on the road due to sloppy field conditions at the Saddleback Stadium.  The Gauchos looked like road warriors early on, connecting on two early goals for a 2-0 lead. 

Amber Martin (left) tallied her second goal of the season in the 14^th minute off a pass from Brittany Bartle (right), giving Saddleback a 1-0 lead.  Martin then connected for her second goal of the game and third of the season in the 33^rd minute off a pass from Danielle Scelsi (center) and it looked as if the Gauchos would run away and hide.

OCC had other plans, scoring eight minutes later when Syndee Busby slammed home a feed from Ana Villanueva, sending the teams to the locker room with Saddleback up 2-1 at the break.  Orange Coast would add the equalizer in the 60^th minute when Cori Haney scored on a feed from Busby.

It was the opening day of Orange Empire Conference play for both squads.  OEC play will resume for the Gauchos when travel to Cypress on Friday to take on the perennial power Chargers.  Kickoff is set for 3:00 PM.