Women’s Soccer: Chargers handle Rustlers

In her continuing effort to move the Golden West College women’s soccer team forward after taking over as head coach in June, Krissy Grana took a step back in time Tuesday.

Grana, who played at Cypress College and coached recently at Cypress High, squared off against her alma mater in a 2-0 Orange Empire Conference loss at Golden West.

“I actually played for Randi [Martinez in his 17th season as an assistant coach for the Chargers],” Grana said. “We knew Cypress was going to be good.”

The Rustlers (1-3-1, 0-1-1 in conference) are somewhat less than good at the moment, as Grana inherited a roster with only three returners, only one of whom played last season.

“Our first meeting, we walked in and there was only one player,” Grana said. “Only [defender] Alejandra Lopez played last season and we have [sophomores Jessica Cowles and Brooke Warken] who played in 2014. Everyone else is new.”

There are 14 freshmen to go with the three aforementioned sophomores, on the Golden West roster. And the results have been somewhat predictable. The Rustlers, who are 1-5-4 in their last 10 contests dating back to last season, have now been outscored, 13-4, this season. Tuesday marked the fourth time in five games the Rustlers have failed to score.

“We are a little out of shape and our transition into offense and being able to finish opportunities we get are areas in which we need to progress,” Grana said.

Cypress (5-1-1, 2-0) on the other hand, made steady progress toward its offensive goal on Tuesday.

The Chargers, a perennial playoff contender, finished with a 20-7 advantage in shots. They opened the scoring in the 11th minute, when Julissa Zuniga and Taylor Jones set up teammate Kailey Merino. Merino collected a pass all alone on the left wing, settled the ball, then popped it into the upper right portion of the net.

Cypress, against which goalkeeper Brooke Riddle made seven saves, tacked on in the 52nd minute when Zuniga converted assists from Nicole Waters and Jones.

Cypress goalkeeper Angeles Alvarez made three saves to record the shutouts, the third of the season for the visitors.

Lopez and Warken made strong defensive plays for Golden West, for which Valentina Manns, a freshman midfielder from Frankfort, Ill. won a handful of 50-50 balls at midfield and produced the Rustlers’ best scoring chances on free kicks.

Manns banged a drive from about 30 yards out off the crossbar late in the first half to give the Chargers a scare.

The two goals by Cypress matched its fewest in a game this season, as the Chargers have now outscored opponents, 23-6.

Golden West returns to conference action on Friday at Norco.