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Men's Soccer

Toros Earn 2009 CCAA Title in Thrilling 3-2 Double OT Victory Over Rival Sonoma State

Box Score
TURLOCK, Calif. – Senior defender Kevin Gallaugher converted a penalty in the second overtime to lift Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 3-2 victory over Sonoma State in the final of the 2009 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Soccer Championship Sunday at Warrior Field in Turlock.

Down 2-1 with under four minutes remaining, tournament Most Valuable Offensive Player Greg Piechota scored on a header after receiving a lofted ball from Brian Alvarez to knot the score 2-2.

"Greg is getting hot right now and it is nice to see him scoring goals towards the end of the season," said head coach Joe Flanagan following the win.

"John [Sherman] also did a great job in the game really putting their defenders on their heels throughout."

Cal State Dominguez Hills appeared to have won the contest in the first overtime when Andrew Marinez scored an apparent goal in the 95th minute. However, the Toros were called for offsides, nullifying the score.

Gallaugher's winning penalty kick was set up when Diego Turoldo was fouled inside the box.

Junior forward Ben Langwith accounted for both of Sonoma State's goals, scoring at the 19:12 mark and in the 64th minute.

Cal State Dominguez Hills senior John Sherman put the Toros on the board in the 34th minute after taking a cross from Piechota and connecting for the equalizing goal.

The win avenges last year's CCAA Tournament final loss to Sonoma State after the Seawolves bested the Toros in penalty kicks 6-5.

Overall, CSUDH out-shot SSU 27-12, with eight attempts finding the frame, while the Toro defense allowed only four shots on goal.

"Defensively we locked them up pretty well with our back four," said Flanagan.  "I can't ask for a better effort from our guys on championship Sunday."

In goal, Markus Dickerson was forced to make only two saves while Seawolf Brook Johnson tallied five. "Brook definitely made some great saves as he always does," said Flanagan of his team's foe on the day. "He is a good presence in goal for them."

The win was the seventh CCAA Tournament title for the Toros (16-5-1) and marked their third championship in the last four years.

Both Cal State Dominguez Hills and Sonoma State (14-4-4) will await the announcement of the 32-team NCAA Championship field that will be released on Monday, with the Toros expected to be either the top seed based on splitting with CSULA and defeating SSU twice, with SSU also downing CSULA in their two meetings, or No. 2 seed at worst.

Along with Piechota, Marinez, Sherman and MVP Defense Marco Pulido also earned All-Tournament Team honors.

Stay tuned to www.GoToros.com com, with the West Region selections coming in at approximately 4:00pm Pacific time on Monday.




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