Cats claw Lasers

The Saddleback women's soccer team won its seventh game of the season with a 3-1 victory over Irvine Valley College on Friday in Irvine.  The Bobcats remained in the tie for first place in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC).

Saddleback and Irvine Valley was a game that meant a lot on Friday.  Not only is IVC an inter-district rival, but the Lasers were off to a hot start to the season and Saddleback wanted to show that they aren't ready to give up their status as one of the powers in the conference.

Saddleback was solid from start to finish.  The Bobcats scored in the 16^th minute when Jinan Said scored off a pass from McKenna Pugh for a 1-0 advantage.  It was Said's team-leading fifth goal of the season and enough to send the Bobcats into the locker room at halftime with a lead.

Saddleback expanded that lead in the second half, scoring in the 59^th minute when Said returned the favor, feeding Pugh for her third goal of the season for a 2-0 lead.  The Bobcats then put the game away in the 71^st minute when Hannah Allen scored her third goal of the season off a feed from Allison Lozano for a 3-0 lead.

Irvine Valley scored a late goal when Kuuipo Laumatia scored for the Lasers in the 83rd minute to draw within 3-1.

Saddleback is now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in OEC play.  The Bobcats will travel to Cypress College to take on the Chargers on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.