Defending State Women's Soccer Champs Picked to Repeat

The 2019 women's soccer season is ready to kick off, which means it is time for the Orange Empire Conference sports information directors to cast their ballots. The SID's from the OEC made a unanimous decision, selecting Santiago Canyon College to defend the conference title.

Santiago Canyon has made it easy on the sports information directors in recent years. The Hawks have now won 15 straight conference titles and won their third state title last December. Santiago Canyon collected all six first place votes, making them a runaway winner according to the SID's. The Hawks finished a perfect 24-0 in 2019, including a 16-0 finish in OEC play.

The battle for second place in the voting was tight, with Fullerton College edging out Cypress College. Fullerton garnered two second place votes and three third place votes in finishing with 37 points. Cypress had two second place votes and two third place votes in finishing with 36 points.

Fullerton finished in a tie for second place in conference play, going 12-5-4 overall and 9-3-4 in OEC play. The Hornets made it to the opening round of the CCCAA Regional Playoffs where they fell to Santa Monica College, 3-1.

Cypress was a fourth place finisher in OEC competition last fall, finishing 10-7-5 overall and 8-4-4 in conference play. The Chargers also advanced to the CCCAA Regional Tournament where they fell to Chaffey College, 2-0.

Saddleback College and Golden West College finished in a tie for fourth place in the voting. Both programs garnered one second place vote in finishing with 25 points apiece. Saddleback finished in fifth place in the Orange Empire Conference last season (9-6-5, 6-6-4) while Golden West was tied for second place with Fullerton (12-5-6, 9-3-4), making it to the second round of the CCCAA Regional Tournament.

Orange Empire Conference SID's Poll

1 Santiago Canyon (6) 48

2 Fullerton 37

3 Cypress 36

T4 Saddleback 25

T4 Golden West 25

6 Orange Coast 23

7 Santa Ana 15

8 Irvine Valley 7