COD (2-2) faced an onslaught of shots, where the Roadrunners keeper made 20 saves on 45 shots, holding a 1-0 lead for 57 minutes on the #5 team in the state, but the Santiago Canyon Hawks of Orange (3-0-1) scored two goals in four minutes and the home side fell to the defending CCCAA State Champs, 2-1.

In a first time meeting, as College of the Desert had never played Santiago Canyon in Women's Soccer in program history, the game was a true test for both squads. The Hawks battled the heat and Desert faced an offensive barrage rarely seen.

Sophomore goal keeper Marqisha Zamudio-Ontiveros (Thermal Coachella Valley) held her own with a stout defense in front of her, facing 20 first half shots and 25 second half shots, making 20 saves on the afternoon.

Desert would get onto the board in the 20th minute as sophomore forward Jaidah Martin (Rancho Mirage H.S.) took a redirect at the top of the goal box and threaded a pass to freshman midfielder Isabel Alvarez (Indio Shadow Hills), who rifled a shot into the lower right hand corner of the net to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

Alvarez, freshman forward Jasmine Castillo (Indio Shadow Hills) and freshman midfielder Fabiana Zavala (Thermal Desert Mirage) were the biggest threats for the Roadrunners on the afternoon leading the way with 4 of the nine shots taken and 3 of the five shots on goal.

The one goal lead would hold through the first half whistle, but coming out of the break Desert had a chance to add on. In the 52nd minute, after a slew of Santiago Canyon shot attempts, the Roadrunners took a long kick the opposite way and freshman midfielder Denise Hernandez (Palm Springs H.S.) had a shot on goal teed up for her, but her attempt inside the goal box was pounded high.

Moments later, Zamudio-Ontiveros made a point blank save that saved the game, up to that point.

In the 77th minute, the Hawks equalized and in the 81st minute, Zamudio-Ontiveros made a diving save on the first shot attempt, blocking that shot, but redirected it to the feet of an oncoming Santiago Canyon player, who lifted the shot into the back of the net for the lead.

The next game for Desert is in one week, Friday, September 20 at the Santa Ana Dons at 1p. College of the Desert has never played Santa Ana in Women's Soccer in program history. The next home game for Desert is Tuesday, September 24 at 1p, when they host the Taft Cougars. The Roadrunners have an 0-5 record overall against the Cougars, the most recent home game against the Cougars was 2018, where Desert fell, 4-0.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com)