Canyons Keeps Momentum in 4-0 Victory Over San Diego Mesa

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

College of the Canyons maintained its unblemished record with a 4-0 victory over visiting San Diego Mesa College on Tuesday, with the Cougars netting three second half goals in cruising to victory.

Canyons (3-0) saw a trio of players score their first goals of the season, while Bailey Willaimson extended her point streak to three games. Goalkeeper Rebecca Ferguson was credited with her first clean sheet of the young season.

Lily Golphenee found the back of the net in the 18th minute to give Canyons the early 1-0 advantage. Kennedy Crone started the sequence by intercepting a ball near midfield and sending a cross to Bailey Williamson, who found a streaking Golphenee on the right side. The freshman out of Saugus High School then launched a strike from about 10 yards outside the box.

The assist from Willaimson, her third of the season, places her season point total at seven through the first three games.

After sending the game to halftime at 1-0, Canyon High School grad Sienna Salas got in on the action after Golphenee took a ball into the box and collided with the San Diego Mesa goalkeeper. Salas, who was trailing the play, collected the ball and quickly found the open net to move COC ahead at 2-0 in the 48th minute.

Later, it was Leila Sadra scoring off a corner kick that was sent into the box by Emma Wenz. Sadra, who attended Castaic High School, sent a header past the keeper for another Cougar goal in the 77th minute.

Emily Thompson scored for the second straight game. The freshman out of Saugus High School played a ball in the box that was mishandled by the San Diego Mesa defender and was eventually sent past the goalkeeper in the 83rd minute.

The Cougars totaled 13 shots in the game and were awarded eight corner kicks.

San Diego Mesa (1-3) employed the services of two goalkeepers with starter Xairah Gromus taking the loss after the early goal.

Ferguson (3-0) was marked for two saves in helping the Cougars to victory.

Canyons is back on the pitch at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at San Bernardino Valley College.

The Cougars will play four straight road contests with SBVC, Allan Hancock College (Sept. 19) and Santa Barbara City College (Sept. 23) all on the docket ahead of Glendale College (Sept. 26) in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division opener.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.