Rustlers Earn No. 12 Seed, Set to Host No. 21 West LA in SoCal Regional First Round
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Team Stats
| Game Statistics | West LA | Golden West |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 0 (0) | 15 (0) |
| Saves | 8 | 2 |
| Fouls | 0 | 13 |
| Corner Kicks | 0 | 5 |
| Offsides | 0 | 0 |
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Golden West College women's soccer team is headed back to the postseason. Following an impressive regular season, the Rustlers have officially clinched the No. 12 seed in the 2025 3C2A SoCal Regional Playoffs and will host No. 21 West Los Angeles College on Wednesday, November 19 at 2 p.m. at the Rustlers Soccer Complex.
Golden West enters the postseason at 11-4-6 overall with a 5-4-5 record in the always-competitive Orange Empire Conference, its strongest finish in the last five seasons. The Rustlers protected their home turf all year, going 4-1-4 at home and earning crucial road results with a 7-3-2 away record.
The Rustlers' balanced attack and elite defensive unit carried them through a demanding schedule. Golden West finished the regular season with 33 goals scored more than double the opponents' total of 15 and allowed less than 0.76 goals per match.
Offensively, sophomore standout Kaylee Gomez led the way with a team-best 8 goals and 19 points, including two game-winners and a perfect 1-for-1 mark on penalty kicks. Freshman forward Alexandra Ortenzo added a major spark with 6 goals, tying Gomez for the team lead in assists (3) while finishing with a team-high four game-winning goals.
Forward Abby Quinlan contributed 3 goals and 3 assists, while veteran defender Jada Overton pushed forward for three goals, all coming in key conference moments. Midfielder Ari Ramos served as one of the team's top playmakers with three assists.
The Rustlers also benefitted from quality depth across the roster, with 13 different players scoring goals this season.
Golden West's defense proved to be the backbone of its postseason rise. The Rustlers recorded 15 total shutouts, anchored by the remarkable play of sophomore goalkeeper Sierra Carter, who delivered one of the best seasons in the CCCAA.
Carter finished the regular season with:
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6-2-3 record
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0.68 goals-against average
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63 saves
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.875 save percentage
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9 shutouts
Freshman keeper Tessa Wenzel also shined in her opportunities, posting one shutout, a perfect 0.00 goals-against average, and a 1.000 save percentage in four appearances.
The Rustlers will now begin their playoff run at home as they welcome the West LA College Cougars, the No. 21 seed from the Western State Conference. The winner of Wednesday's first-round matchup will advance to the SoCal Regional Round 2 on Saturday at the No. 5 seed College of the Canyons.