An early Holiday gift

The Saddleback women's soccer team advanced to the regional finals with a win over Orange Coast College in penalty kicks on Tuesday night inside the stadium.  The Bobcats and Pirates fought to a 0-0 tie through 120 minutes before going to a shootout.

Saddleback and Orange Coast were about as even as could be.  Both teams had a handful of mediocre opportunities during regulation, but throughout seemed like two squads destined to go to penalty kicks to decide a winner.

Saddleback had the better of the play through the first 45 minutes, outshooting Orange Coast 9-6 but unable to put one past the Pirate goalkeeper Samantha Ortega. 

Orange Coast had a 7-6 advantage in shots in the second half, but seemed to control play over the final 15 minutes of regulation as neither team made a lot of substitutions down the stretch.
Orange Coast continued its solid play in overtime, outshooting Saddleback 5-0 in the first overtime period as Orange Coast striker Olivia Hostetler had the ball on her foot more than anyone but couldn't get a shot past Saddleback's keeper Maycie Pugh.

The second overtime was dead even as both teams looked spent of energy, with neither gaining an edge and both finishing with one shot apiece. 

Right before the end of the second overtime, Saddleback made a tactical move when the coaches made a switch at goalie in anticipation of penalty kicks.  The Bobcats put in Cameron Simmons, who they thought would be a better choice in a shootout situation. In retrospect, it eventually turned out to be a great decision from a staff that was named the OEC Coaching Staff-of-the-Year a week earlier.  

The game went to penalty kicks and both teams missed their opening two opportunities before Orange Coast connected on a third attempt from Kenzie Marker for a 1-0 lead.  Saddleback proceeded to miss a third straight opportunity when Ortega came up with a save for the Pirates on Cheyenne Embrey, making the home fans restless as the Bobcats couldn't seem to figure out the penalty kick riddle.

Orange Coast then missed on their fourth opportunity when Simmons made a save on Taylor Garner to keep the Saddleback hopes alive.  The save seemed to energize the Bobcats as Morgen Pulham finally found the net for Saddleback to tie the shootout at 1-1.

Orange Coast took a 2-1 lead on their fifth attempt when Tess Doucette scored, leaving Saddleback with one more opportunity to tie the game or see their season come to an end.  The Bobcats chose Karissa Franco to take the shot, and Franco delivered a laser beam into the upper left corner to even the score at 2-2 through the manditory five penalty kicks. 

The teams then went to a sudden death shootout and Orange Coast was up first with Grace Boyce standing at the penalty circle.  Boyce tried to sneak a ball into the left side of the net, but Simmons guessed right and easily made the stop to give Saddleback a chance to steal the victory.  The Bobcats chose Araylia Holiday, who had missed on an opportunity against Santiago Canyon 11 days earlier with a potential Orange Empire Conference title on the line.  Holiday didn't miss a second time, blasting a ball into the lower-left corner as the hometown fans erupted and the bench emptied onto the field in celebration.

The 3-2 win on penalty kicks advances Saddleback to the regional finals on Saturday where they will host fellow Orange Empire Conference foe Golden West College at 7:00 PM. The Rustlers were 1-0 winners over Cypress College earlier in the day.

GAME NOTES:  Tuesday's scoreless tie was the fifth straight shutout for Saddleback.  The Bobcats have now gone 490:20 since last giving up a goal against Orange Coast on November 4.  

Updated bracket below.