Gauchos blast Eagles on opening day

The Saddleback women's soccer team opened the 2019 campaign on a high note, beating Mt. San Jacinto College, 5-0, in San Jacinto.    The Gauchos dominated from start-to-finish in 100 degree heat.

Saddleback jumped out to a quick lead in the opening minute when Nina Ferreira scored an unassisted goal for a 1-0 lead.  The Gauchos then made it 2-0 when Shelby Burris fed Paige Vitolo for her first goal of the season.  Saddleback blew the game open in the 34^th minute when Chloe Deveze took a pass from Maliyah Medley and put it in the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.

Saddleback used the opportunity to get a bunch of new jerseys in the game in the second half as all but four players saw action.  Vitolo scored her second goal of the season off a pass from Kayla Blackmore in the 56^th minute, giving Saddleback a 4-0 lead.  The Gauchos then added a fifth goal in the 74^th minute when Eva Hayek directed a pass from Kaitlin Nguyen into the net.

Lehar Chawla played the entire game in goal for Saddleback, steering aside four shots on the afternoon.

The win was the fifth straight shutout on opening day for Saddleback and the second straight over Mt. San Jacinto.  The Gauchos shut out MSJC, 4-0, a year ago.

Saddleback is now 1-0 on the season and will hope to make it two in a row next Tuesday when they travel to San Diego Miramar College.  The Gauchos and Jets are scheduled to start at 3:00 PM next Tuesday in San Diego.