Community College women’s soccer: Mahler comes through

COSTA MESA - Jaycee Mahler, a Corona del Mar High product, scored

her seventh goal of the season to break a late tie, leading the Orange

Coast College women’s soccer team to a 2-1 Orange Empire Conference

victory over visiting Saddleback Wednesday.

It was the opening OEC game for both teams.

Fresh off their Allan Hancock Tournament championship, the Pirates

(5-2, 1-0 in the OEC) have now won five of their past six.

Mahler scored the game-winner in the 78th minute, heading the ball off

a pass from Marissa McGregor. Mahler was stumbling onto her knees when

McGregor, who has four assists this season, found her open on the left

side.

Mahler scored a goal last week to help the Pirates to a 3-0 victory

over Irvine Valley, leading to OCC’s tournament title. Mahler won the

Golden Boot Award for her offensive prowess after scoring four goals in

the touranment.

Cristina Guerin gave the Pirates an early advantage when she scored

the only goal of the first half, in the 12th minute.

Guerin took a throw-in from Costa Mesa High product Fernanda Velasco

from about 30 yards out and booted the ball into the upper right corner

of the goal, past the reach of Gaucho goalie Brianne Ewing.

Saddleback (0-2, 0-1) tied the game, 16 minutes after the break.

Coast outshot the Gauchos 15-6, and limited them to just two shots in

the second half. Pirates’ goalie Laurie Perkins finished with four saves.

The game was a homecoming of sorts for Saddleback coach Brandee Craig.

She was a standout sweeper for the Pirates in 1987 and 1988 and spent the

past eight seasons as assistant under OCC Coach Barbara bond.

The Pirates return to action Tuesday, when they play at Santa Ana at 3

p.m.