Women's Soccer: Hawks & Chargers Separating Themselves

Midway through the Orange Empire Conference schedule, two teams have started to separate themselves from the pack as defending conference champion Santiago Canyon College and Cypress College appear to be the favorites to capture the 2017 conference title. SCC holds a two point lead in the standings with seven games remaining. 

Santiago Canyon has won 13 straight Orange Empire Conference titles, but No. 14 is not going to be a picnic. Cypress trails the Hawks by just two points in the standings and will play SCC in a week with a chance to pass them in the standings provided they take care of business this week. 

Santiago has two blemishes on their season so far in OEC play, a 1-1 tie with Irvine Valley and a 2-0 loss to Orange Coast.  Since then, the Hawks have ripped off seven straight wins, including a 4-0 win over Cypress. 

Conversely, Cypress' lone loss in conference play was to Santiago Canyon with a pair of ties against Irvine Valley and Fullerton. The Chargers have had four, one-goal wins to remain in the hunt.  

If there is a team that could play spoiler it is Orange Coast, who sits five points out of first place and three points out of second. The Pirates were the only team to beat Santiago Canyon, and a pair of 2-1 losses to Cypress and Saddleback have somewhat eroded their chances. OCC enters a tough stretch starting Tuesday where they host Santiago Canyon before heading on the road to face Irvine Valley and Fullerton. If they can somehow complete a sweep, the Pirates could be in line to pull off an upset.

Santiago Canyon has the top scorer in the conference so far in Ofelia Sosa (Marina HS), who has found the back of the net nine times for the year. She scored a hat trick against Golden West on September 26 and has seven goals in conference play. 

The Hawks also boast the top assist player in the conference in Cassie Soto. The sophomore from Mater Dei High School has seven assists on the year, including five in OEC play. 

Santiago Canyon leads the Orange Empire Conference in goals scored with 38 while Saddleback leads the conference in defense, with only nine goals allowed all season.

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