Preseason poll by sports information directors suggests close Orange Empire Conference women's soccer race
MISSION VIEJO - The 2022 women’s soccer campaign kicks off this week and the quest for the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) title starts in late September. The sports information directors have weighed in, giving Cypress College a slight edge over Saddleback College and Santiago Canyon College
The overall voting couldn’t have been a lot closer. Cypress secured three of the five first place votes and finished with 36 total points. Saddleback took home the other two first place votes and finished with 35 overall points. Santiago Canyon was shut out for first place votes, but was still at 34 total points in the poll as they took home 4-of-5 second place votes. The voting mirrored the 2021 results, which saw Cypress and Saddleback tie for first place with Santiago Canyon finishing an eyelash behind.
Cypress has now won at least a share of the past two conference titles and returns a handful of players from a squad that made it to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state finals last December. The Chargers return a dynamic duo in the nets in Siriana Gudino and Jade Bernardo, who combined for a 0.52 goals-against average in 2021. The roster also includes seven others that made the trip to the state tournament, including the second leading scorer on the team in Brianna Rodriguez. Defender Jassmin Ortiz was a First Team All-OEC selection last season and returns to lead the Charger defense.
Saddleback was close to a dream season a year ago. The Bobcats shared a piece of their first-ever conference title with Cypress and earned the top seed for the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Unfortunately, Saddleback had to face Cypress in the regional finals and fell to the Chargers 1-0 in a hard-fought battle with their rivals. The Bobcats don’t appear to be going anywhere, however, as they look focused on taking things a step farther in 2022. Despite losing their leading scorer, Saddleback has 18 sophomores on the roster, including four First Team All-OEC selections in Zoe Chung, Lizbeth De Loera, Rylie Laisy and Lacy Ruston. They also return the second leading scorer from a year ago (Kylie Beu), who finished with 12 goals on the season.
It used to be a foregone conclusion that Santiago Canyons was going to be the favorites in the Orange Empire Conference. The Hawks won 15 straight conference titles before the streak ended in 2019. Santiago Canyon will not go away quietly, however, as the Hawks have 13 sophomores listed on the roster in 2022. Leading scorer Camryn Toole returns to the lineup after tallying nine goals a year ago. She’ll be joined by two others that made the All-OEC First Team in Paige Winters and Kylee Medlin.
According to the sports information directors, the race for fourth place seams just as close. Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Fullerton College were all separated by one point, with OCC taking home 60% (3) of the fourth place votes. Santa Ana College and Irvine Valley College finished seventh and eighth in the voting, respectively.
OEC SID’s Preseason Poll
- Cypress 36 (3)
- Saddleback 35 (2)
- Santiago Canyon 34
- Orange Coast 21
- Golden West 20
Fullerton 20
(Orange Empire Conference)