Lady Cougars Continue Conference Streak, 5-2 Over Bakersfield

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

College of the Canyons used a first half scoring frenzy to put away Bakersfield College 5-2 at home on Friday, extending its unbeaten streak to six games in the process. 

The Lady Cougars received goals from Natalia Zuluaga Ramirez, Alyssa Edwards (2), Kiana Madera and Ryan Shepherd to secure the conference victory. Shepherd also recorded a pair of assists. Annabella Gonzales (4-0-1) started in net and earned the win with one goal allowed. Hazel Saucedo played the second half and allowed one score to go with a save.

The Lady Cougars needed just six minutes to put a score on the board after Shepherd found Ramirez for the scoring touch, her fourth of the season.

That's where things stayed until Alyssa Edwards made a move and put together a scoring strike in the 32nd minute, with Shepherd again helping to orchestrate. The Edwards score, her first of the night, made it a 2-0 affair. 

Bakersfield was able to bang one in when Liliana Flores found a rebound and eventually knocked it in to give the Renegades life at 2-1 in the 33rd minute.  

Madera quickly answered back for Canyons, however, with an unassisted effort in the 35th minute. The score was Madera's fourth of the season. 

Shepherd opened the second-half action with her sixth goal of her sophomore campaign, this one coming after a pass from Lizeth Gutierrez.

With COC still controlling the tempo at 4-2, Edwards knocked home her second of the night, and fifth of the season, to leave no doubt about the Lady Cougars victory. Edwards and Shepherd are now tied for second on the team with five goals each, behind team leader Ashley Striegel.

The second Bakersfield goal came from Mariah Myers-Caldare near the end of the 75th minute and was unassisted. 

Canyons (7-3-1, 4-0) continues to play unbeaten in Western State Conference (WSC), South Division competition. The two scores netted by Bakersfield (2-5-3, 0-3-1) represented the first two conference goals allowed by a Canyons side that has outscored opponents 27-2 over its first four WSC, South matches. COC and Antelope Valley College (9-2, 4-0) sit atop the standings with their first meeting scheduled for Friday Oct. 13 in Santa Clarita.

Up next, the Lady Cougars travel to Citrus College on Tuesday, Oct. 10 for a 6:30 p.m. start.

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. 

—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information