Aryanna PonceExtreme heat forced the Santa Ana College Dons to postpone its women’s and men’s soccer home-opener games scheduled for Friday. Temperatures in Santa Ana reached about 90 degrees with humidity as high as 94% that day, leading officials to cancel the games hours before kickoff. The heat was also intensified on the artificial turf, which absorbs and retains heat and can make temperatures on the playing surface significantly hotter than the surrounding air. Makeup dates have not yet been determined.
“It was disappointing hearing that it got cancelled. But we are not letting it affect us that much,” Sophomore Omar Ocejo said. “Now we’re just focused and ready for [Tuesday’s] game.”
The postponement was not the first time heat has affected Santa Ana College soccer. Cammie Lewis said a men’s game against Chaffey College in 2024 was also postponed due to heat after about 70 minutes of play.
Lewis said another heat-related postponement is possible in the future, but he does not anticipate one this week as temperatures are expected to cool.
“It could happen again in the future, but it looks like it’s going to be cooler this week, so I don’t expect [it],” Lewis said.
As the Dons prepare to return to the field, cooler temperatures are expected to allow both teams to continue their schedules while officials monitor weather conditions and finalize makeup dates for the postponed games.
The Dons are scheduled to return to action Tuesday, Sept. 1, the women’s team will play away at 2 p.m against Cuyamaca College, followed by the men’s team at 4 p.m against San Diego City.
