Saddleback College women’s soccer defeats Fullerton College 4-2
Freshman Danyelle Allen waits for the incoming pass in the second half of Friday’s 4-2 win. Allen scored all four of the Gauchos goals on Friday, giving her 16 on the year. (Michael Grennell)
The Saddleback College women’s soccer team picked up its sixth win of the season on Friday in a 4-2 victory against Fullerton College.
“We played a decent game. There’s always room for improvement,” Gauchos coach BJ McNicol said. “Anytime you got a girl that gets a first half hat trick, you’re gonna do well in that game.”
Freshman Danyelle Allen led the Gauchos to victory, scoring all four of the team’s goals. Allen scored her 13th goal of the season eight minutes into the game, breaking the Gauchos’ single-season scoring record. The record of 12 goals had previously been held by former Gauchos Stacy McDonald (2001), Michelle Manzo (2003), and Kaelyn Kaichi (2010).
Allen’s four goals on Friday also tied her with McDonald for the school record for goals in a single game.
“[Allen’s] first ever college game was right on this field, and she got a first half hat trick,” McNicol said. “I don’t know if there’s a better way to announce your arrival on the college scene. We are thrilled for her and the girls.”
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Allen said after the game about setting the school record. “I think [my teammates] did really, really well. That’s why I score.”
Allen’s 16 goals for the year accounts for over 60 percent of the Gauchos’ team goals. She is also the top scorer in the entire state. The next highest scorer in the state is Samantha Madsen of Folsom Lake College with 10 goals.
The Gauchos also got another solid performance from its freshman goalie, Alexandria Scott, who was credited with seven saves in the win. Scott has only allowed eight goals all season, while making 54 saves. Scott’s 54 saves leads the Orange Empire Conference, and is the third most by a goalie in the state. Only Cydney Cone (78) from Butte College and Katelyn Oshima (63) from Rio Hondo College have made more saves this season.
Allen’s former coach, Ed San Juan, was at the game on Friday, and said he was not surprised by how well she has done with Saddleback.
“She first came to me as a defender, and I saw tremendous upside in her,” San Juan said. “It has been fabulous to watch her do this. I track all of my players, but I’ve been watching Danyelle and the Saddleback team extra close. I’m so proud of her, and I’m glad for [Coach McNicol].”
Despite the Gauchos’ winning start to the season, McNicol said that the team is not worrying about making the playoffs just yet.
“It’s been a long time since this program has been in consideration,” McNicol said. “So we are just taking it one game at a time. I don’t want to get too far ahead and lose focus on our next opponent.”
Saddleback’s next game will be on Tuesday, when the Gauchos (6-1-2, 2-1-1 in conference) play host to the Orange Coast College Pirates (4-1-2, 2-1-1 in conference). The Pirates will be coming off a 1-0 win against the Santa Ana College Dons.