Cougars Move Into First Place with 1-0 Victory Over Monarchs

One week after celebrating the individual accomplishments of one of its players, the College of the Canyons women's soccer team clawed out a tough 1-0 victory over L.A. Valley College on Tuesday to move into the conference's top spot.

Canyons (10-1-5, 8-0-3) entered the contest two points behind the Monarchs in the Western State Conference, South.

But with Tuesday's victory, the Cougars are now one point ahead of L.A. Valley and in full control of their postseason — and championship — destiny.

COC sophomore Mari Kneisel put the Cougars on the board in the eighth minute with her 22nd goal of the season and 42nd of her career. It came off an assist from fellow sophomore Lucy Maino.

That was all the scoring Canyons would need, however, as COC goalkeepers Kianna Hemphill and Jordan Burrow combined for the shutout. Cougar goalies have now combined for eight shutouts on the season.

Meanwhile, Kneisel is now just five goals away from matching the program's single season scoring record of 27 goals, set by then-sophomore Stacey Atwater in 2013. Last week Kneisel broke Atwater's career goals mark of 36 goals.

Canyons has already defeated each of the three remaining conference opponents on its schedule in Bakersfield, Glendale and West L.A. — while outscoring those schools by a combined margin of 19-0.

The Cougars will also face San Diego Mesa in a match that was originally scheduled on Sept. 15 but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Canyons, winners of three straight and six of its last seven matches, will next head north to face Bakersfield College at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.