Palomar

Steve Virgen Orange Coast College's biggest test of the season comes today when Palomar visits for a football matchup at 1 p.m. that could possibly decide the Mission Conference Central Division championship. The Pirates have passed tests three times this season with a consistent defense and an improving offense that is capable of the big play. In Week 4, with just one touchdown to show for its first three games, OCC went to Mt. San Antonio and pulled off the upset, 26-25.

Freshman forward Sarah Ronquillo has scored some big goals in the last three weeks for No. 3-seeded Orange Coast. None carry more weight than her game-winner in the 115th minute to help the Pirates (21-1-2) take out 11th-seeded Palomar, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The not-so-secret weapon of Lauren Cassity and her lengthy throw-ins set up two of the three Coast goals on the afternoon.

COSTA MESA — Gustavo Ibarra stood on the sidelines late in the first half Tuesday, eager to get back into the action. The Orange Coast College freshman forward had already done plenty, scoring two goals in what would end up being a 3-0 nonconference win over visiting Palomar. But Ibarra turned to OCC men’s soccer trainer Glenn Strachan, ensuring him that he was ready to go do some more damage. “I got a little winded,” the freshman from La Quinta said, before flashing a smile.

Steve Virgen COSTA MESA - After Orange Coast College's fourth straight victory, it's safe to say, these Bucs are for real. The OCC football team earned its biggest victory of the season with desire and a relentless knack for the big play leading to a 21-17 Mission Conference Central Division victory over visiting Palomar Saturday. "We're just rumbling to a league championship," said OCC offensive lineman Adam Fisher, who ran four yards for a touchdown after picking up Rob Pate's blocked field goal early in the fourth quarter.

COSTA MESA — Coaches aren’t typically glass-half-full types, so when Orange Coast College women’s basketball coach Mike Thornton scanned the box score following his team’s 63-55 season-opening nonconference victory over visiting Palomar Wednesday, it was a wonder he could still muster a smile. The tabulations showed a combined 59 turnovers, 74 missed field-goal attempts and enough sloppiness to add validity to the term mid-season form. OCC shot 25.8% from the field (17 for 66)

ESCONDIDO — As if the Orange Coast College football team’s defense wasn’t already peeved enough with the Pirates’ offense, the OCC special teams gave cause for even more frustration Saturday. A blocked punt and an ill-advised pass by OCC punter David Harrington after he had dropped a punt snap helped lead to 10 Palomar points and the Comets went on to record a 22-10 triumph in the Mission Conference American Division opener for both teams at Escondido High.

COSTA MESA — The play will need at least a couple more weeks of action before the Orange Coast College football team can considered it reliable. But on Saturday night, the play-action pass back to running back Andrew Banks, was the crutch a hobbling offense needed. Orange Coast had yet to convert on third down in the second half, and was only one for seven in the game, when it lined up for third and six at the Palomar 41 with less than four minutes remaining. So the Pirates called what had worked for 20 yards earlier and led to a touchdown for Orange Coast.

The Orange Coast College football team (3-1), off to its best start since 2009, has jumped to the No. 8 ranking in Southern California, No. 17 in the state and No. 30 in one national poll. Coach Mike Taylor's Pirates upset Palomar, then ranked No. 5 in Southern California and No. 13 in the state, 35-28, on Saturday in the Southern Conference opener at OCC. The Pirates are ranked No. 30 in the nation by JCGridiron.com. OCC plays Grossmont (3-1), ranked No. 5 in Southern California and No. 13 in the state, on Saturday at 1 p.m. in El Cajon.

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College women's water polo readies for this weekend's play at the Citrus Tournament, and if nonconference ventures against Rio Hondo and Palomar are any indication, it may be a very productive weekend. The Pirates are still basking in the recent twin victories, highlighted by goalie Erin Kennedy's work in the net at Palomar on Tuesday when the Newport Harbor High product recorded a pair of four-meter rejections. "Two in one game is really noteworthy," said OCC Coach Mike Giles.

SAN MARCOS -- The Orange Coast College women's basketball team saw its 13-game winning streak halted with a 57-52 loss to Hutchinson (Kan.) in the semifinals of the Palomar Tournament Friday. The Pirates also learned that freshman point guard Laurie Denning is out for the season with a torn ACL. Denning averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 assists in nine games, before injuring her knee in practice. Jillian Ricks had 25 points for OCC (15-2), which will meet either Irvine Valley or Palomar in today's third-place game at 1 p.m. Palomar Tournament Semifinal Hutchinson (Kan.