Canyons Tops Mt. SAC 4-1 in Home Opener

The College of the Canyons women's soccer team played to a 4-1 victory over visiting Mt. SAC on Friday, as the Cougars put together a well-rounded win in their home opener.

Canyons (2-1-2) had yet to play in front of its home crowd, after having a match postponed due to rain the previous week vs. San Diego Mesa.

Due to a long layoff between games earlier in the season, and the subsequent rainout postponement, COC entered Friday's contest having played just two games in the month of September.

The win vs. Mt. SAC (1-5) — which came in the midst of a blistering heat wave — was COC's first of the month.

The Cougars got on the board in the 37th minute when freshman Amanda Balzer scored her first goal on the season. Sophomore Marissa Kneisel was credited with the assist.

Head coach Justin Lundin and the Cougars took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but would soon be starting from scratch after a Mt. SAC equalizer from Alondra Lopez made it a 1-1 game in the 60th minute.

But with her customary knack for scoring in the clutch, Kneisel answered right back just a few minutes later with an unassisted goal to put Canyons back on top 2-1. The goal was Kneisel's team-leading fourth of the season.

After that the Canyons attack found its rhythm, with freshman defender Kailey Marquez extending the COC lead to 3-1 with her first goal of the season, in the 69th minute. Kneisel was credited with her second assist of the afternoon. 

Sophomore midfielder Astrid Perez registered the final exclamation point of the afternoon, with a well-played, unassisted goal in the 77th minute that put the Mounties down 4-1. The goal was her first of the season. 

COC freshman goalie Kianna Hemphill (1-1-2) faced seven shots and made six saves in the victory.

Canyons will open up conference play next week, as the Cougars travel to face Western State Conference, South rival Citrus College at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29.