Building on success

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA -- Cypress College is but a whisper, a faint memory for

the Orange Coast College women’s soccer team. At least it seems that

way for the Pirates.

Cypress College accounted for three of OCC’s five losses last

year, when the Pirates went 20-5-1, matching the school record for

wins set by the 1988 team. Cypress College ended OCC’s season with a

2-0 decision in the third round of the Southern California Regional

Playoffs.

However, the Pirates don’t have the Chargers on their minds ...

not until Sept. 20. That’s when they will play at Cypress at 3 p.m.

“We don’t go out there everyday thinking that if we don’t work

hard that we’re not going to beat Cypress,” said OCC Coach Barbara

Bond in response to the question: Will Cypress serve as motivation

for OCC this season?

“Our goal is to go into every practice and try to improve at least

one thing, individually and collectively,” said Bond who enters her

21st season with the Pirates. “If each athlete can improve everyday

in practice, by the time playoffs are here, we’re going to be even

better.”

During the past off-season, Bond appears to have corrected the

problem that led to the three losses to Cypress.

In addition, OCC’s scoring punch will not just be all about

sophomore Jaycee Mahler, the Orange Empire Conference MVP. The

Pirates have added freshmen Sarah Ronquillo, from Costa Mesa High,

and Vanessa Rocha, from Laguna Hills, whom will mesh with Mahler and

fellow scoring threats, returnees Lauren Cassity and Nikki Saenz.

Last year, Mahler set the school single-season record with 33

goals. She played despite an ankle injury late in the season and had

trouble shaking double and triple team defensive scenarios.

However, this year, Bond has assembled a team that can take

pressure off of Mahler. That should create more one-on-one

opportunities for the scoring phenom originally from Corona del Mar

High.

“She’ll probably be out there scoring more,” Bond said of Mahler.

Cassity, who came into her own toward the end of the season last

year, scored 12 goals, and Saenz also had 12. Mahler, Cassity and

Saenz formed the most effective scoring trio in Pirate history with a

combined 57 goals.

Also returning for OCC will be, Amber Blake, Summer Chaldu,

Marissa McGregor, sweeper Alicia Santiago and team MVP Fernanda

Velasco.

Santiago figures to be one of the leaders on defense, while

Velasco is a key playmaker on offense.

Ronquillo, along with freshman Lisa Dunn, will reunite with

Velasco, as all three played across the street at Costa Mesa two

years ago.

Freshmen Laurie Moore, Melissa Mangrello and Jessica Bertoni are

also rather familiar with each other. They played together at

Fountain Valley last year.

OCC begins the season Friday, as it hosts Mt. San Antonio at 3

p.m.