Pirates rally for 3-2 win over Bobcats

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College women's soccer team has matched up well with some of the top programs in the region and on Tuesday night, the Pirates knocked off SoCal's No. 1 team, Saddleback College, with a 3-2 win inside LeBard Stadium.

After a frustrating 1-0 loss at Golden West on Friday, the Pirates (12-4-3, 6-2-3 in the Orange Empire Conference) came out with something to prove and the hard-fought effort helped hand the Bobcats (12-2-3, 7-1-3) their first loss in OEC play.

Both teams went back and forth during the early stages of the match before Saddleback struck first with a goal in the 14th minute from McKenna Pugh.

It stayed that way until the 26th minute, when Kennedy Heimer got some time and ripped a shot-pass towards the Saddleback goal, where it was deflected off of the head of Chantelle Sanchez, evening the score at 1-1.

The Bobcats closed out the first half with a goal by Jinan Said in the 43rd minute and in spite of a well played first half, the Pirates saw themselves trailing at the half, 2-1.

It was a struggle for any good looks through the first portion of the second half, but finally, the Pirates took advantage of a couple of set pieces to turn the momentum back in their favor.

Off a corner kick in the 70th minute, Olivia Hostetler sent the ball into a pile of bodies and there, Kenzie Marker got to the loose ball and headed a shot into the upper corner of the net, leveling the contest at 2-2.

Just 10 minutes later, Saddleback was called for a foul and off of a free-kick opportunity, the ball went from Jazmeen Serratos to teammate Grace Boyce and the freshman forward took care of the rest, scoring the eventual winning goal for a 3-2 OCC win.

From there, the Pirate defense went to work and held Saddleback to just eight shots on frame for the entire night. Samantha Ortega came up big down the stretch and finished with six saves. Saddleback's Maycie Pugh had four saves in the loss. 

Coast will return to the OCC Soccer Complex on Friday against Santa Ana, beginning at 3 p.m.