Cats shut down Wolverines to advance

The Saddleback women's soccer team advanced to the third round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Tournament with a 3-0 victory over San Bernardino Valley College on Saturday night inside the stadium.  The Bobcats will face the winner of Orange Coast College and Chaffey College, who were playing later in the night.

Saddleback controlled play from start to finish.  The Bobcats struck early when Hannah Allen took a ball that was tipped forward by Morgen Pulham and blasted it past the San Bernardino Valley keeper for a 1-0 lead.  It was Allen's fourth goal of the season and gave the Bobcats the momentum.

Saddleback peppered the Wolverine goalkeeper for most of the half and increased the lead to 2-0 in the 43^rd minute when McKenna Pugh took a pass from Araylia Holiday and scored her ninth goal of the season.  Saddleback finished with a 10-5 advantage in shots for the half, seven of which were on goal.

Saddleback and San Bernardino Valley played most of the second half in the middle of the field as Saddleback was trying to burn clock and the Wolverines had a hard time penetrating the Bobcat defense.  Saddleback finally put the game on ice in the 86^th minute when Holiday blasted one past the San Bernardino Valley keeper for a 3-0 lead.  It was Holiday's ninth goal of the season and prompted both benches to get some fresh uniforms into the game.

Saddleback finished with a 16-10 advantage in total shots for the game.  Maycie Pugh played the entire game in goal for Saddleback to improve to 11-2-3 for the season.

Saddleback is now 16-2-3 overall.  The Bobcats will host the winner of Orange Coast College and Chaffey College on Tuesday in the third round of the playoffs.