Women’s soccer: OCC triumphs

Lauren Cassity scored in the fifth minute to help Orange Coast

College defeat visiting Santiago Canyon, 1-0, in an Orange Empire

Conference women’s soccer game Friday.

Cassity scored on a header off a cross from Jaycee Mahler, who picked

up an assist to give her a conference-leading 49 points.

The Hawks (12-4-3, 6-4-3) had a chance to tie the game in the 88th

minute when OCC goalie Laurie Perkins deflected a shot and the ball

trickled loose in front of the left side of the net. But OCC defender

Kristen Hamman closed in and cleared the ball.

Perkins finished with eight saves to earn her sixth shutout of the

season.

With the victory, the third-ranked Pirates improve to 16-4, 11-2 in

the OEC. The Pirates clinched a finish of no worse than sole possession

of second place in conference.