On to the regional finals

The Saddleback women's soccer team advanced to the 3C2A Southern California Regional Finals after a 2-1 victory over Santiago Canyon College on Tuesday night inside the stadium.  The Bobcats scored in the final minutes to grab the win.

Saddleback and Santiago Canyon played even for most of the way on Tuesday night.  The Bobcats and Hawks were knotted at 1-1 heading into the final 10 minutes when Santiago Canyon's Jordyn Lamastra was whistled for her second yellow card after pulling down Jinan Said inside the penalty box.  Saddleback was awarded a penalty kick and called upon Emery Simis to take the shot.  Simis' shot went off the right goal post to give the Hawks a momentary break, but Santiago Canyon was still in a tough spot in having to play the rest of the game a person down.

Saddleback capitalized in the final minutes when Danyela Jara kicked a ball forward to Anjelina Nieto, who was flanked by a defender about five yards from the goal. Nieto proceeded to use a heel kick to beat the Santiago Canyon keeper to the left side of the net, giving the Bobcats a 2-1 lead in the final minutes.  It was Nieto's 13^th goal of the season and fourth goal in the past two games. 

Saddleback used the extra player to control play in the final minute.  The Bobcats ran out the clock in the corner of the field as Santiago Canyon was unable to gain control of the ball.  Eventually the head referee whistled the game over, sending the Bobcats to the regional finals.

Saddleback scored the opening goal of the game when they were awarded a penalty shot in the 57^th minute.  Katelyn Ramirez buried the penalty shot into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead. 

Santiago Canyon tied the game in the 64^th minute when Alyssa Marino got a foot on a loose ball in front of the net and scored her eighth goal of the season.  The goal seemed to infuse momentum into the Hawks, who had a number of chances in the following minutes.  Santiago Canyon nearly took the lead in the 75^th minute when Madison Stottlemyer found herself undefended less than eight yards from the goal.  Stottlemyer took a shot, but Saddleback's Cameron Simmons made an improbable save to keep the game even. Simmons would finish with four saves in improving to 9-1-1 for the season.

Saddleback is now 17-2-3 overall following the win.  The Bobcats have now won 12 straight games and ran their unbeaten streak to 17 games with the win.

Saddleback will travel to Pasadena City College for the Regional Finals on Saturday.  It is a rematch from the second game of the season when Saddleback dropped a 1-0 decision to the Lancers.  The game time has yet to be determined.