College of the Canyons Women’s Soccer Set for Postseason Play

The No. 3 College of the Canyons Cougars will host the No. 13 Saddleback College Gauchos in the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Women's Soccer Southern California Regionals at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, in Cougar Stadium.

COC enters the postseason with a record of 15-2-3 and 8-0-2 against Western State Conference (WSC) opponents, having won nine of its final 10 games.

As a result, COC head coach Justin Lundin and the Cougars clinched the program's fourth straight WSC South championship. During that span Canyons is a combined 62-9-15. 

In 2014, COC posted an impressive goal differential, scoring 69 goals while allowing just seven scores through 20 games.

On the season Canyons has been led in scoring by freshman forward Marissa Kneisel's team-leading 50 points on the season (18 goals and 14 assists). Sophomore Jennifer Mendez ranks second with 22 points (nine goals, four assists) with freshman Astrid Perez (four goals, 12 assists) rounding out the top three with 20 points.

Sophomore center back Elise Wassner has been a force for the Cougars all season, while goalkeeper Priscilla Duron posted a record of 11-2-2, with 10 shutouts and a 0.46 goals against average in her sophomore campaign.

The Gauchos (11-5-4, 7-5-4) concluded the regular season as fourth place finishers in the Orange Empire Conference. Head coach BJ McNicol's team found the win column just once in its final five contests, ending its season with a 3-1 road loss at Santiago Canyon.

Offensively, the Gauchos are led by sophomore forward Danyelle Allen who has posted 21 goals and five assists on the season.

Last season the Cougars defeated Mt. SAC in the opening round of the SoCal Regionals before being eliminated by San Diego Miramar in the second round.

Admission to Saturday's CCCAA Women's Soccer Southern California Regional game is $10 for adults and $7 for COC staff and students with I.D, seniors over 60 and children under 12.