Box Score Carson, CA -- Ninth-ranked and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills left no doubt as to which team was the best team in the West Region, handing cross-town rival and 18th-ranked Cal State L.A. a 4-0 defeat to claim the 2008 NCAA West Region Title, its first since 2005. Sophomore Diego Turoldo's score at 40:14 provided all the scoring CSUDH would need.
"It's always been close with CSULA the past couple of games, but it's nice to see us finally finishing some chances," said a jubilant Joe Flanagan on the win, the team's first West Region title in three years.
"The first goal was just a mistake by the goalie, so we got a little lucky with that, and it was kind of the same thing with the second goal, and after that, it just kind of opened up from there.
"A couple guys off the bench like Scott (Mariano) and Mario (Guerrero) gave us a little spark, and it was great," he continued. "But I told the guys before we started, just because we're hosting doesn't mean we're going to advance, so we came in really focused in both games, and now we're going to the NCAA Quarterfinals, which is awesome."
After the two teams split in the regular season and held each other scoreless well into the first half, the Toros finally capitalized on their 13-6 shot advantage in the 40th minute. A Scott Mariano free kick from 18 yards out was bobbled by CSULA keeper Noe David and bounced to Chris Perkins, whose shot was deflected to the feet of Turoldo for the tap in, giving CSUDH a 1-0 lead entering the half.
The top-ranked team in the region, however, was only getting started as it took just 16 seconds to double its edge. With Perkins delivering a high ball into the Golden Eagle box, Mariano beat David to the ball and headed home the score for a 2-nil lead.
Forward Jordan Rover got into the scoring in the 63rd minute after a hard-charging Mariano drew out CSULA's second keeper Tobias Hummel, flicking a cross to Rover who was all alone in front of the net for the score.
Less than two minutes later, Rover delivered his own assist as he collected a loose ball deep in the CSULA zone and lofted a pass to Mario Guerrero over an onrushing Hummel, giving Guerrero another open net look and finish.
The West's best team doubled the shot output of CSULA, 22-11, though the Golden Eagles tallied a 5-3 edge in corners. A physical game befitting rivals located just 18.1 miles apart, the two teams combined for 38 fouls, five cautions and a red card issued to a CSULA player for dangerous play.
"I thought we had a pretty good start, but we didn't make certain plays and they did, and when you go down 1 or 2-nothing you really have to chase the game, and 2-0 can become 4-0 pretty quickly," begins CSULA head coach Chris Chamides.
"All credit to Dominguez Hills, they deserved it. We fell a little short today, but I'm really proud of my guys."
Cal State Dominguez Hills will host one of four NCAA Quarterfinal match-ups next Saturday against either Midwestern State, a 5-0 second-round winner over Fort Lewis earlier this afternoon, at Toro Stadium at a time to be determined, at the Track and Field Facility of the Home Depot Center.
2008 NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team:
CSUDH - Miguel Benitez, Alberto Garcia, Kevin Gallaugher, Kyle Holland, Hiram Rangel
CSULA - Mickey Daly, Rufino Franco, Ruben Hansen, Kyle Hewitt
SSU - Corey Taufer
NDDN - Justin Smith
Offensive MVP - Kyle Holland, CSUDH
Defensive MVP - Kevin Gallaugher, CSUDH
