College Roundup

COSTA MESA — Sophomore forward Gabriela Valles produced a hat trick, leading the No. 9-ranked Vanguard women’s soccer team past top-ranked Cal Baptist, 4-1, Wednesday.

Valles scored three straight goals after a scoreless first half in the Golden State Athletic Conference match. Freshman Amanda Couch also scored for the Lions (8-1, 3-1 in conference).

Senior goalkeeper Jillian Foss recorded four saves for Vanguard, which outshot the Lancers, 11-6.

Cal Baptist suffered its first loss, falling to 10-1-1, 3-1.

Valles made sure of that, starting early in the second half. She had an opportunity for a penalty kick and made the most of it, beating goalie Emily Evanson for a 1-0 lead, three minutes into the second half.

The Lions added to their lead just four minutes later, as Valles struck again. Charging from the left side, she beat Evanson once more from 12 yards deep in the box.

With a 2-0 lead against the top team in the NAIA, it seemed as though the home team would back off and play a more defensive style of soccer. However, Valles wasn’t finished. Collecting the ball nearly 20 yards from goal in the 64th minute, she once again whipped the ball right past a charging Evanson, who was attempting to keep her unbeaten squad in the game.

Lancer forward Fabiola da Silva tried her best to keep Cal Baptist in the game, and took advantage of one of the only good offensive chances the visitors had, drilling a penalty kick right past Foss and into the back of the net in the 66th minute.

But the Lions answered in the 85th minute, when Couch crushed a free kick from 20 yards out on the left side, past the outstretched hands of Evanson and into the upper right-hand corner of the net. It was Couch’s fifth goal of the year.

Vanguard will play at No. 17-ranked Concordia Tuesday at 3 p.m.

MEN’S SOCCER

UC Irvine 2, New Mexico 1

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Senior Irving Garcia scored twice, including the game-winning goal in overtime in the Anteaters’ nonconference match Wednesday night.

Garcia recorded the second goal in the 96th minute for UCI (7-4).

Garcia’s first goal came in the 82nd minute, giving the Anteaters a 1-0 lead.

Junior goalkeeper Victor Chinchilla made five saves for UCI.

The Anteaters return to Big West Conference play Saturday as they travel to play Cal State Northridge at 3.