Nieto leads the way for OEC Awards

The Saddleback women's soccer team will open the playoffs on Saturday and with the regular season behind them the coaches from the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) made their all-conference selections.  The Bobcats finished with 10 recognitions, including the Conference MVP and Coaching Staff-of-the-Year.

Anjelina Nieto was named the Orange Empire Conference MVP following an exceptional season when she scored nine goals with five assists in 20 games.  Nieto scored all nine of her goals in Orange Empire Conference play, including a pair of goals against Cypress College in a 3-0 win to help the Bobcats win the conference title.

Saddleback's head coach BJ McNicol and his staff were also named the Conference Program/Coach-of-the-Year.  The Bobcats finished the regular season 15-2-3 overall and 12-0-2 in OEC play, capturing a second straight OEC title and third in the last four years. 

Saddleback had four other players named to the Orange Empire Conference First Team and three named to the OEC Second Team.  Jinan Said, Chloe Campagne, Danyela Jara and Emery Simis were named to the first team while Mason Morton, Allison Lozano, Samantha Arce and Gloria Gomez were named to the second team. 

Saddleback was named the No. 3 seed for the upcoming 3C2A Southern California Regional Tournament.  The Bobcats will open the playoffs on Saturday against the winner of Orange Coast College and Long Beach City College, who play on Wednesday night.