Women's Soccer race could come down to three

The 2021 Orange Empire Conference women's soccer season has reached the halfway point and the race is starting to narrow. With half of the conference schedule remaining, Santiago Canyon, Saddleback and Cypress are looking like the favorites in a season where the OEC has been the dominant force in the state.

The Orange Empire Conference has long been a force in women's soccer, with programs from the OEC winning the past two state titles and seven state titles since 1998. Santiago Canyon has been the headliner in recent years, winning state championships in 2019, 2018, 2009 and 2006. Previous to that, Cypress was the state champs in 2004, 1999 and 1998.

This season a third program enters the mix in Saddleback, who has started 12-0-2 and is currently No. 1 in the southern half of the state in power points. The Bobcats have outscored opponents 54-0 for the season and outshot both Cypress (25-4) and Santiago Canyon (15-10) in the opening round of OEC play but had to settle for 0-0 ties in both games. Saddleback is led by Maliyah Medley, who is currently fifth in the state with 18 goals for the year. Medley has scores two-or-more goals in five games this season, including a four goal performance in the season-opener.

Santiago Canyon (13-0-1) has been machine-like, outscoring opponents 50-0 for the season. The Hawks are currently No. 3 in the southern half of the state in power points and defeated Cypress 1-0 in mid-October to take a slight lead in the standings. SCC has arguably the most balanced attack in the state, with seven players having four-or-more goals on the season. Camryn Toole and Alyssa Rubio currently lead the Hawks with six goals apiece but much like Saddleback, the back line has been impenetrable so far.

Cypress (10-1-1) is the defending OEC champs after knocking Santiago Canyon off its 15-year perch in 2019. The Chargers had a great start to the season when they defeated two of the top teams from Northern California and quickly were ranked No. 1 by the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA). Since then, they had a tie with Saddleback and a loss to Santiago Canyon, putting them in third place in the OEC standings and dropping them to No. 7 in the rankings. Cypress has outscored opponents 38-5 for the season and features arguably the best keeper duo in the state with Jade Bernardo and Siriana Gudino. The Chargers also have one of the more electric offensive weapons in Brianna Cortez, who has 14 goals for the season.

All three programs were ranked in the top-10 in the latest national poll conducted by the United Soccer Coaches. Santiago Canyon is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, with Saddleback No. 5 and Cypress No. 9.

Despite the dominance of the three programs, the rest of the OEC has programs that can jump up and bite you at a moment's notice. Golden West currently sits in fourth place in the standings and features one of the better defenses around, allowing just 19 goals the entire season. Orange Coast currently sits in last place in the standings but has outscored opponents 29-19 for the year. Fullerton is currently in sixth place in the standings, but stunned Rio Hondo (3-1) in mid-September, a program that is No. 2 in Southern California in power points and has a 12-1 record. 

Release by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback SID