Colleges: Vanguard soccer making strong pitch
The Vanguard University men’s and women’s soccer teams will share their home field Saturday for a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader against Hope International. But the Lions, both coached by Randy Dodge, also share impressive records and national rankings.
The men’s squad is 8-1, 2-0 in conference, and ranked No. 3 in the latest NAIA poll. The Lions have won five straight, all shutouts, since their lone loss. Now-top-ranked Rio Grande of Ohio (10-0) was ranked No. 3 when it earned a 3-2 home win over the Lions on Sept. 4.
Since the loss, Vanguard has outscored opponents, 16-0, including a 2-0 win over then No. 16-ranked conference rival The Master’s on Sept. 23. TMC is now ranked No. 18.
Junior forward Juan Arellano, a two-time all-conference performer, and senior forward Jesus Fregoso are once again pacing the offense for the Lions. Arellano has six goals and four assists (16 points with two points for a goal and one for an assist), while Fregoso has seven goals and one assist.
Arellano has 19 goals and 15 assists in his Vanguard career, while Fregoso has totaled 20 goals and 10 assists as a Lion.
Sophomore Brian Torres has three goals and three assists this season, while sophomore goalkeeper Brandon Torres, an All-GSAC honoree last season, has anchored the defense with six shutouts and an 0.56 goals-against average that ranks seventh in the nation.
The Vanguard men finished third in the GSAC standings last season, but then won the conference tournament to earn an automatic berth into the NAIA Tournament.
Meanwhile, the Vanguard women are also 8-1, 2-0 in conference, and ranked No. 12 nationally.
The Lions have won seven in a row since their lone loss, a 2-1 home setback against Northwestern Ohio, which is now ranked No. 3, on Aug. 29.
The Lions have outscored teams, 22-3, during the winning streak and 25-5 this season. They have posted a 155-47 advantage in shots.
Vanguard, for which 10 players have scored goals this season, is paced by senior defender Ashley McCutcheon, a two-time All-GSAC performer whose impact transcends statistics.
Junior forward Danyelle Allen, a transfer from Saddleback Community College, has six goals this season, sharing the team lead with sophomore forward Madison Lopp. Lopp also has three assists for a team-best 15 points, while sophomore midfielder Nicole Dunn has three goals and three assists.
Vanguard is among four GSAC teams ranked in the NAIA top 25, with defending conference champion Westmont topping that list at No. 9. Biola is No. 14 and The Master’s, which Vanguard defeated, 2-0, on Sept. 22, is ranked No. 23.
Vanguard visits Westmont on Oct. 17 and plays host to Biola on Oct. 20.
Meanwhile, the soccer fortunes at UC Irvine are less than stellar.
The Anteaters men’s team is 2-6-2, 0-1 in the Big West Conference, heading into Saturday’s home clash with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The UCI women are 4-6-1, but are 1-4 in their last five matches, heading into their conference opener at home against UC Riverside on Sunday at 1 p.m.
At Orange Coast College, Coach Kevin Smith’s women’s team is 4-3-3, 3-1-2 in the Orange Empire Conference after a 5-0 trouncing of Santa Ana on Friday. The Pirates play host to first-place Santiago Canyon on Oct. 23.
The OCC men entered Friday 2-4-1, 1-0 in conference.
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5