Golden West College secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Santiago Canyon College Friday afternoon, in a tight defensive battle. The Rustlers, now 1-4-2 on the season, claimed their first conference win, while Hawks dropped to 0-2 in league play and 2-5-1 overall.

The game's only goal came in the 38th minute of the first half when centerback Jad Othman capitalized on a set piece, converting a pass from Arnold Ramirez. Despite managing only 2 shots on goal out of 11 total, Golden West's defense held firm throughout the match.

Santiago Canyon struggled offensively to find the back of the net as Golden West tallied their first shutout, anchored by Othman and the backline. Trevor Jones and Charlie Murray shared duties in goal, combining for three saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Golden West dominated set pieces with 6 corner kicks to Santiago Canyon's none, and despite earning 13 fouls, the Rustlers' disciplined effort allowed them to hold on for the win.