Saddleback College hangs on to top spot in JC Division

Saddleback College encountered a problem this weekend that most teams hit at some point in their existence. Lack of a goaltender, or more truthfully, goaltenders.  With fielding 3 teams this season, it has been difficult to find 3 goalies attending the school and willing to participate.  Leon Robinson was the lone goaltender in Corona on Saturday, as Taz Viloria had other commitments, and the Saddleback B Red team has not found a goaltender yet for the season.  The 3 teams shuffled goaltenders and suited up players in goal to make sure they stayed within the rules, and combined finished 10-2 on the weekend.  The JC Division team went undefeated, defeating West Valley College in a very close 10-9 game, Santa Barbara City College, Paradise Valley Community College, and Cal Poly Pomona.  Saddleback players that chipped in and helped out in goal were Ryan Silva, Keala Davis, Rob Alexander, Chase Ryan

West Valley College also encountered some goaltender problems, when JC Division goaltender Justin KleinSmid was injured midway through the game against Santa Barbara CC.  B Division goaltender Adam Fisher stepped in and finished the game, earning the win as well.  This extra game meant that Adam could not participate in his Sunday B Division game, and KleinSmid sat out Sunday’s JC Division game due to injury.  Dennis Nourse threw on the pads for the JC Division team, defeating Paradise Valley CC and Patrick Thompson steped in for the B Division game against Cal Poly Pomona B.

Santa Barbara City College lost their games against Saddleback and West Valley, but were able to earn 2 wins against UC Santa Cruz and Paradise Valley.  The West Valley game was a physical, intense game that finished 9-6 in West Valley’s favor.