SAC UPDATE: Men’s and women’s soccer teams win and football squad drops opener

Santa Ana College players celebrate during Friday’s victory. (Photo courtesy Santa Ana Collge Sports Information).

Sophomore midfielder Marck Rayo led the Santa Ana College men’s soccer team to its first win of the 2023 season against Chaffey Friday afternoon.

Rayo played the best game of his SAC career with two goals and an assist while the Dons shutout Chaffey 4-0. 

The first goal of the day came in the 18th minute as freshman forward Esteben Palacios put away a point blank shot off a sharp cross from Rayo. 

In the 43rd minute, Santa Ana (1-1) struck again when sophomore midfielder Gilbert Gomez connected with freshman midfielder Diego Corona who curved a ball into the lower left corner of the Panther goal to make it 2-0.

Both of the second half goals came off the left leg of Rayo to seal the win.

Women’s soccer team beats Norco

The women’s soccer team opened the season with a 1-0 shutout of Norco College last week.

Freshman midfielder Karen Juarez scored the only goal of the day in the 39th minute on a cross from fellow freshman Brianna Mejia. 

Although the Dons held the lead and looked in control in the first half, they found themselves on the defensive end of the field for much of the second half. 

Freshman goalkeeper Aurea Macedonio earned her first shutout with four saves including a couple of clutch ones in the last 10 minutes.

Football squad loses opener

The Santa Ana College football team opened the season with a 55-35 loss to Pasadena City College Friday night.

The Dons trailed 24-0 in the first quarter before quarterback Dallen Engemann connected with Malachi Pierce on a 63-yard TD pass.

Pasadena tacked on another three points on a field goal to end the quarter with a 27-7 lead. 

Engemann finished the day with 381 passing yards and five touchdowns but had five interceptions. In limited time, Beck Moss (Irvine High School) completed 6 of 9 passes for 52 yards.

Pierce (Edison) was the standout receiver with three touchdowns and three catches for 138 yards. Cannon King had five catches, going just over the 100-yard mark with a TD.

On the defense, freshman Cole Miller had  six tackles with 1 1/2 sacks and picked up his first interception of the season. 

Santa Ana College will host Southwest College Saturday at 1 p.m. at Santa Ana Stadium.

—Courtesy SAC sports information