
Bobcats to face defending champs at 3C2A State Tournament
The Saddleback women's soccer team advanced to the 3C2A State Tournament on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Pasadena City College. The Bobcats will face Folsom Lake College in the semifinals on Friday in what is Saddleback's second appearance at the state tournament in the past three years.
Saddleback will travel to American River College, the host site of the tournament. Two years ago, the Bobcats captured the state title at the very same site with a 2-0 victory over Chaffey College in the finals. A week later, Saddleback was named the No. 1 team in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches to finish the 2022 campaign.
Outside of the venue, however, you can throw out most comparisons to the 2022 season. The Bobcats have only two players on the roster that were a part of the program that year and are facing a Folsom Lake program that won the state title in 2023 and enters the tournament as the top remaining seed from the Northern California ranks. In addition, Saddleback has one of the youngest teams in the state with 23 freshmen on the roster, compared to a 2022 roster that was loaded with sophomores.
"They are very good," head coach BJ McNicol said. "We are going to have our hands full. They are talented and looking to defend their title."
Saddleback enters the tournament at 18-2-3 overall. The Bobcats were the champions of the Orange Empire Conference after finishing 12-0-2 in OEC play. Saddleback is currently riding a 13-game winning streak and an 18-game unbeaten streak. The Bobcats defeated Long Beach City College (4-1), Santiago Canyon College (2-1) and Pasadena City College (3-0) to make it to the state tournament.
Folsom Lake enters the tournament at 21-1-2 overall. The Falcons finished 9-1-1 in conference play, winning the Big 8 Conference title. Folsom Lake has won 10 straight games since suffering their only loss of the season against Santa Rosa Junior College (1-2) on October 18. The Falcons defeated Las Positas College (4-0), Hartnell College (1-0) and Sierra College (2-1) to make it to the state tournament.
Saddleback and Folsom Lake have two common opponents this season in Sierra College and Cosumnes River College. Saddleback tied Sierra (2-2) at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament in early September while Folsom Lake went 1-0-1 against Sierra, tying the Wolverines (0-0) in early October and then beating them in the regional finals (2-1). Saddleback was a 3-1 winner over Cosumnes River at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament in early September while Folsom Lake defeated CRC 4-1 in early October.
Saddleback and Folsom Lake are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM on Friday at American River College, with the winner moving on to the state championship game on Sunday.