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11/9/12: Season ends with loss to Rustlers
 They battled for 80 minutes, with both teams deflecting shots and keeping each other at bay with solid defense. Then, in the final 10 minutes of the match, both defenses lightened up and the offenses started to get ample opportunities. When the final whistle had blown on the 2012 season, Golden West had edged Saddleback 2-1 in a women's soccer match with all of the scoring coming in those final 10 minutes.
It was the final match of the season for both teams. They had fought to a 1-1 draw in early October on the Golden West home field and it appeared that the teams were headed for another draw in the season finale. But Golden West, after playing defense for much of the first half, put together a series of failed offensive runs late in the game until Leezett Del Toro was able to roll in the first goal at the 80 minute mark on an assist from Paula Sajeh. Sajeh added a goal of her own just four minutes later on a pass through the goalkeeper's box from Monse Garrido to put the Rustlers up 2-0.
Saddleback set out for some last-minute heroics with an offensive flurry of its own after keeping pressure on the Golden West goalkeepers for most of the game. The Gauchos finally found the net when Mia Xifo's corner kick bounced off several players in the box before Sidney Houghton was credited with knocking it into the net for good. That goal came with only three minutes remaining and, despite a couple of offensive runs, the Gauchos couldn't find the equalizer before time expired.
Liz Jones got her first start in goal for the Gauchos and posted four saves.
The Gauchos finished the season with a 5-10-4 overall record and a 3-9-4 mark in Orange Empire Conference play under first-year head coach BJ McNicol. It appears as if the Gauchos will finish sixth in the 9-team conference and will not be invited to the playoffs.
10/30/12: Gauchos end in draw with Lasers ... again
 The intradistrict rivalry between Saddleback and Irvine Valley ended in a 1-1 draw Tuesday night on the JSerra High School field, marking the second time this season that these teams have not been able to determine a winner.
It looked like there would be lots of scoring as both teams struck early. Irvine Valley was able to get on the scoreboard first just three minutes into the contest as Madisen Hammonds' direct free kick from 25-yards out deflected off the head of a Saddleback player and into the net. The Gauchos answered just seven minutes later as Jenny Kraska found Hannah Petersen (pictured) in front of the net and Petersen rolled the ball into the lower left corner to tie the score at 1-1. Both teams had a couple of solid scoring opportunities later in the game, with Irvine Valley getting four good shots on goal and Saddleback having seven shots on goal. The Gauchos had a corner kick hit the far post and carrom away in the first half and mis-hit a shot directly in front of the goal in the second half roll wide. Petersen had a pair of breakaways which were saved by Laser goalkeeper Amanda Rashtian.
Rashtian finished with seven saves while Saddleback's Marisa Flasco posted four saves.
This was the first year of the South Orange County College Cup challenge between these two programs, a friendly wager for a large trophy adorned with a silver cup which goes to the soccer team which wins the two-game series on the season. The teams played to a 1-1 draw last month in Irvine and then posted the same score on Tuesday night on Saddleback's temporary home field. With the series all tied, the teams went to penalty kicks to determine who would win the inaugural cup (the game officially remains a tie). Irvine Valley scored on its first, third, and fifth penalty kicks, with Desirae Santana getting the final PK to help the Lasers secure the cup. Saddleback's Jenna Becker tied the PK's at 1-1, but Saddleback's next three kicks were blocked, hit the bar, and sailed over the bar, respectively.
10/21/12: Becker rallies Gauchos past Dons
 The women’s soccer team had arguably its most exciting win of the season on Friday when it defeated Santa Ana College, 3-2. The Gauchos rallied back from a 2-1 deficit on the strength of two late goals by Jenna Becker.
Saddleback is looking to make a late run at the Southern California playoffs, and it was imperative that they pick up a win against Santa Ana, a team very close to them in the standings. The Gauchos fell behind 2-1 in the 51st minute when the Dons connected on an unassisted goal by Teresa Pintor. They bounced back with a vengeance, as Becker (left) scored in the 69th minute on a pass from Hannah Petersen to tie the score. Becker would then push Saddleback over the top on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute after a hard foul on Santa Ana’s Kenia Vazquez, giving the Gauchos a much-needed win.
Saddleback outshot Santa Ana 8-5 in the game, as Amy Tamillo and Marissa Flasco both played a half in goal for the Gauchos.
The Gauchos improved to 4-7-3 overall with five games remaining on the regular season schedule. Next up for Saddleback is a game at Fullerton College on Tuesday. Saddleback defeated Fullerton in their only meeting of the season on September 21 (2-1). Match time is set for 3:00 pm.
10/17/12: Women’s soccer falls twice to Norco
 The Saddleback offense had a tough time scoring goals this week, losing two straight games to Norco on Monday and Tuesday. The Gauchos managed just one goal in 180 minutes and will look to regroup against Santa Ana on Friday.
Saddleback has had a tough time putting the ball into the back of the net in 2012, and it once again became a problem this week with losses on consecutive days to Norco College. The Gauchos’ lone goal was scored by Jessica Wright (right) in the 71st minute of game two, as Saddleback outshot Norco 10-9 for the game but couldn’t keep pace with the Mustangs. It was the 11th time in 13 games that Saddleback has scored one or less goals this season.
Saddleback will look to regroup against Santa Ana College on Friday. The Gauchos and Dons tied 1-1 in the first meeting of the season on September 18. Match time is set for 3:00 pm.
Saddleback is now 3-7-3 overall and 1-6-3 in Orange Empire Conference play for the season.
10/9/12: Gauchos earn a draw with Golden West
 The Saddleback women’s soccer team has had a lot of close contests to start the season, and that didn’t change on Tuesday when they traveled to Golden West to take on the Rustlers. The Gauchos led 1-0 at the intermission before holding on for a 1-1 tie in Orange Empire Conference play.
Saddleback took the lead in the 38th minute when Mackenzie Flynn (pictured) rattled home a pass from Bianca Romero to give the Gauchos a 1-0 lead. Golden West tied the game early in the second half Katie Fosmire scored to even the match.
Saddleback and Golden West both had ample opportunities to win the game, but both goalkeepers played solid throughout. Marissa Flasco went the distance for Saddleback, finishing with nine saves. Golden West held a slight 10-9 advantage in shots on goal for the game.
Saddleback will play again on Friday when they travel to Santiago Canyon College to take on the OEC power Hawks. SCC is 10-0-1 on the season while the Gauchos enter the match at 3-4-3. In the previous meeting this season, Santiago Canyon defeated Saddleback 3-0 at JSerra High School on September 11.
10/05/12: Soccer falls to Cypress
 The Cypress Chargers, ranked No. 3 in Southern California and No. 6 in the state, remained unbeaten on the season with a 5-1 victory at Saddleback. It was only the second game ever played on the Saddleback College campus.
The Chargers fired off 36 shots, keeping Saddleback starting goalkeeper Marisa Flasco busy with nine saves. The Gauchos got 11 shots off, including Tina Ali's shot in the 84th minute. Amelia Xifo's long pass into the penalty box carromed off teammate Yasmine Saberi in front of the cage and Ali (pictured) was able to knock it into the net from there.
Saddleback will be at Golden West College on Tuesday, squaring off against the Rustlers at 3:00 p.m.
10/3/12: Women’s soccer dominates non-conference match
 The Saddleback women’s soccer team recorded a 4-0 win at College of the Desert, dominating play from start to finish. The Gauchos scored three first-half goals in evening their record for the season.
Jenna Becker (pictured), Jessica Wright and Jenny Kraska all scored first half goals in darting out to a 3-0 lead at the intermission in Palm Desert. Chelsea Duvenage added a fourth goal in the 59th minute as the Saddleback defense kept the Roadrunners off the scoreboard. It was the single highest scoring game of the year for the Gauchos, who evened their record at 3-3-2 for the season.
Saddleback finished the game with 22 shots on goal while the Roadrunners did not record a shot on net the entire game. Marissa Flasco and Amy Tamillo both played a half in goal as Saddleback recorded its second shutout of the season.
The Gauchos will be in action again on Friday when they host Cypress College. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.
9/22/12: Gauchos even record with latest win
 The Saddleback women’s soccer team improved to 2-2-1 on the season after beating Fullerton College 2-1 on Friday. The Gauchos led 2-0 at the break before holding on against the Hornets.
Saddleback had to wait until mid-October a season ago before picking up their second win of the season, but this season the squad has a different look with a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. The Gaucho defense has been very solid, surrendering one or less goals in all but one game so far.
 Saddleback’s Achilles heel so far during the 2012 campaign has been on offense, where they have been a bit off the mark at times. That changed in the first half on Friday when Mackenzie Flynn (pictured right) scored in the 25th minute and Chelsea Duvenage (pictured left) connected in the 39th, giving the Gauchos a 2-0 lead at the break. The Saddleback defense then did its job, allowing only a late goal by Fullerton in the closing minutes to secure the win.
Saddleback improved to 2-2-1 on the season and 1-1-1 in Orange Empire Conference play with the win. The Gauchos are tied with Orange Coast for fourth place in the OEC, and will face the Pirates today at 6:15 pm at JSerra High School looking to move up in the standings.
9/3/12: Women’s soccer picks up first win
The Saddleback women’s soccer team picked up its first win of the season on Friday, defeating Compton College 1-0. It was the first win for new coach B.J. McNicol, as the Gauchos improved to 1-1 on the season.
Saddleback scored in the 42nd minute when Chelsea Duvenage (pictured) scored on a pass from Jenna Becker to give Saddleback its first lead of the season. The Gauchos held on for the win, outshooting Compton 15-2 in the process.
“We were dominant at times and probably should have scored a few more goals,” McNicol said. “It was a great first win for the ladies.”
McNicol played two goalkeepers during the course of the game as Amy Tamillo and Marissa Flasco both played a half. It was the first win for McNicol, who took over the reigns of the program during the summer months.
Saddleback improved to 1-1 on the season and will have the week off before hosting rival Santiago Canyon College in the conference opener on September 11. Game time is set for 6:15 pm at JSerra High School.
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