Community college women’s soccer: Cypress too deep for Pirates

Steve Virgen

CYPRESS - For the third time this year, the Orange Coast College

women’s soccer team came to an upsetting realization. The Cypress

Chargers are too much. Too deep.

Cypress (22-0-2) scored two goals in the second half, just like in its

Oct. 19th win for the Orange Empire Conference title, to defeat the

visiting Pirates, 2-0, in a Southern California Regional final Tuesday at

Cypress College.

The Chargers advanced to the state championships, while Orange Coast

ended its season with a 20-5-1 record, tying the school single-season

record for wins set by the 1988 squad.

“The difference was depth,” OCC Coach Barbara Bond said. “I’m

extremely disappointed that we didn’t win, but I’m proud of the season.

We just ran out of gas (in the second half). After the first half, it

looked like it was going our way.”

The Pirates, the region’s No. 6 seed, did not control the first half,

but Cypress, the No. 2 seed, was not able to finish its scoring

opportunities.

In the 10th minute, Cypress forward Jessica Chase dribbled into a

one-on-one with OCC goalie Laurie Perkins. But Perkins tracked Chase’s

shot and covered one of her 10 saves.

OCC sweeper Jessica Pearson, who did not play in the Oct. 19 matchup

because of a fractured foot, continually cleared out Cypress’ threats.

“This wasn’t an easy one, believe me,” Chargers Coach Dave King said.

“We just wore them down. We had the fresher legs. (OCC) came in with a

lot of intensity.”

Not counting its goalie, OCC played with 16 girls to Cypress’ 20. Bond

said she was confident in her substitute players, but the Chargers just

had more bodies and some of the Pirates played with injuries.

OCC freshman forward Jaycee Mahler, the Pirates’ scoring leader with

33 goals, played despite a sore right ankle, and Fernanda Velasco, a

Costa Mesa High product, played with a sore right thigh.

Mahler, a Corona del Mar High product, saw double-team defense

throughout the game and Charger defender Sara Jane McIntyre’s sole duty

was to stay on the Pirates’ scoring phenom.

“She still played well,” Bond said of Mahler. “It’s pretty hard to

score with two or three girls on you.”

The Chargers outshot the Pirates, 15-6. Nine of Cypress’ shots came in

the second half and, in the 65th minute, the Chargers found an opening.

After OCC’s Lauren Cassity stuffed a Cypress breakaway, the Chargers came

back and scored after a corner kick.

Shannon Leslie connected off an assist from Julie Lloyd for a 1-0

lead, and, 21 minutes later, Randi Johns scored off an assist from Katie

Eatherton.

Though the season ended for the Pirates, Bond smiled when she thought

of next year.

“I’m excited,” Bond said. “(The 10 freshmen) were a big reason we had

the (20-5-1) record. I’m saying, ‘Let’s go and bring on the next season.’

”