Unbeaten streak hits nine

The Saddleback women's soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to nine games with a 2-0 victory over Irvine Valley College on Friday afternoon in Irvine.  The Bobcats scored two late goals to secure the win.

Saddleback's women have been scoring at opportune times in recent weeks and kept that trend going on Friday in Irvine.  Ten days earlier the Bobcats scored two late goals to beat Orange Coast (2-1) and three days after that scored two goals in the final minute to defeat Santa Ana (2-0). 

Friday's game had a similar feeling as the two teams entered the final minutes scoreless despite a heavy advantage for the Bobcats in total shots.  Saddleback finally broke through in the 87^th minute when Anjelina Nieto scored her fifth goal of the season off a pass from Katelyn Ramirez.  The Bobcats then added an insurance goal in the final minute when Emery Simis took a free kick and beat the Laser keeper for her third goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Saddleback's defense was stingy, allowing very few scoring opportunities for Irvine Valley.  The Bobcats held a 10-3 advantage in total shots, with only two shots on goal for the Lasers.  Cameron Simmons and Gloria Gomez both played a half in goal for Saddleback.

Saddleback is now 9-2-3 overall and 6-0-2 in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play.  The Bobcats are tied with Cypress College atop the conference standings.

Saddleback and Cypress meet on Tuesday in a battle for first place.  The Bobcats and Chargers are set to start at 3:00 PM inside the stadium.