Gauchos overcome adversity in the second half

The Saddleback women's soccer team improved to 3-0 with a 4-2 win at home against Mt. San Jacinto College on Tuesday at the stadium.  The Gauchos trailed at the half in a game delayed by helicopters, smoke and fire-fighting personnel.

Saddleback took the field on Tuesday trying to improve on a perfect start to the season.  The Gauchos were welcomed by helicopters as a result of an incident at the adjacent apartments to the school.  At half time the game was then delayed 30 minutes as a result of a fire that kicked up off the other side of the campus in the valley, with smoke looking as if it would interrupt play. Once play finally resumed in the second half, Saddleback had found its own spark.

Saddleback led 1-0 after Helene Hollidge scored in the sixth minute off a pass from Emilee Monnig.  The Gauchos then fell behind for the first time all season as Mt. San Jacinto scored a pair of goals in the 20^th and 29^th minute.

Saddleback collected itself at the half, rallying the troops and looking to improve on its perfect record.  Monnig scored the equalizer in the first two minutes of the half off a pass from Marissa Meissner.  Rachel Edelstein put the Gauchos ahead seven minutes later when Amber Martin fed her a pass and she found the back of the net.  Hollidge (pictured) scored her second of the game in the 70^th minute off a pass from Monnig to put the game out of reach for the Eagles. 

"I was proud of the way the ladies stuck to the game plan and dealt with the adversity of both being down at the half and the 30-minute delay," head coach BJ McNicol said.

Saddleback has no rest as they head to Santa Monica College today to take on the Corsairs, who are 2-1 on the season.  The kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.