The Chargers Made the Pirates Walk the Plank

The Lady Chargers hosted the Pirates of Orange Coast in the first round of the SoCal Regional playoffs Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Cypress College soccer field. Three-second half goals scored by the Chargers were the difference in the match.

Before the start of the game players from both teams were individually announced as they assembled at midfield for the national anthem. The pre-game ceremony is typical of a playoff game but it's not conducted during the regular season.

Both teams moved the ball up and down the field during the first half. Neither team could put the ball into the net despite having several shots-on-goal. The game remained scoreless at halftime.

The second half was a different story. Charger sophomore Amber Lopez #20 sent the ball into the box of Ariana Olague #12. Olague knocked the ball down with a defender on her shoulder. The Pirate goalkeeper started to come out when Olague kicked a shot passed the goalkeeper and into the net during the 56 minute of the game.

Just two minutes later, Charger freshman Jessica Murphy #11 threw the ball in past two defenders. Olague won the ball and sent it across into the box to Charger sophomore Alana Wohlers #5. A Pirate defender prevented Wohlers from reaching the ball but also failed to clear the ball. Corona was waiting in the perfect place and sent a shot-on-goal that found the back of the net for the second Charger goal in as many minutes.

Charger freshman Angie Silva #18 drove the ball from midfield into the box. After Silva shed a Pirate defender, she shot the ball toward the Pirate goalkeeper but another defender cleared it. The ball headed toward midfield when Corona trapped it and sent a arching shot-on-goal from outside the 18-yard box. The Pirate goalkeeper attempted a save but was only able to get one hand on the ball. After dropping against the shoulder of Lyndsey Ault #19, the ball rolled into the net for the Chargers third goal in the 76 minute.

The Lady Chargers outplayed the Pirates during the second half and were rewarded with a 3-0 victory in the first round of the SoCal Regional playoffs. The Cypress Women's Soccer team will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 for the next round of the playoffs.

To find out who wants to be a nurse, view the TGIF highlight video with post game interviews with some of the Charger players.