November 6, 2005

Box Score

Turlock, CA -- Toros junior Brittny McDonald (Ventura, CA/Ventura College) scored two goals in a span of 3:17 to lead a valiant CSUDH second-half comeback, but UC San Diego benefited from spotty officiating and an extra-man advantage over the final 54 minutes of action to claim a hard-fought 4-3 victory, netting its fifth CCAA Women's Soccer Championship in six years.

The Tritons (17-3) struck first at the 14:13 mark as a Megan Dickey shot deflected off a Toro defender and landed at the feet of Kathy Sepulveda, who knocked it by goalkeep Lisa Agramonte (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS) for a 1-0 lead.

The Toros (14-6-2) would knot the game just five minutes later as a 25-yard blast off Candace Hearn's (Whittier, CA/Whittier HS) left foot bent inward past UCSD netminder Mia Shirley, bringing momentum CSUDH's way.

That momentum would be short-lived, however, as the center official would take matters into his own hands, issuing successive red cards to the Toros at the 36:32 mark.

The first red card was given to defender Sandra Lloyd (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley HS), who was called for tackling from behind inside the box, allowing UC San Diego a penalty kick. Before the Triton attempt, however, head coach Joe Flanagan also was issued a red card for walking onto the field of play, resulting in the Toros being both a player and head coach down the rest of the game.

UCSD would capitalize on the infraction as Natasha Belak-Berger's blast would power its way past CSUDH goalie Agramonte for a 2-1 Triton advantage heading into intermission.

After the break, UCSD quickly capitalized on the one-player advantage, scoring two goals in a span of seven minutes, both courtesy of Lauren Segars.

The Toros would not go quietly, though, showing a heart worthy of the defending CCAA Champions. Behind the defense led by Fawna Waldo (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS) and Katie Roche (Costa Mesa, CA/Cypress College), the Toro offense would begin to find its rhythm in the 66th minute. Junior B. McDonald ignited CSUDH off the bench, collecting a cross from sister Rachele McDonald (Ventura, CA/Ventura College) and angling her shot to the far post at 66:20 to cut the deficit to 4-2, just beyond the reach of UCSD's Shirley.

Just three minutes later, the McDonalds would be at it again as Brittny gathered a pass from Rachele, one-timing it to the far post past Shirley at 69:37.

Tara Senff (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/South HS) almost brought the Toros back all the way with just two minutes remaining as her blast from 35 yards was grabbed out of mid-air by Shirley, preserving the Triton 4-3 lead.

CSUDH would kick its offense into high gear in the final minute, but UCSD continued to successfully clear the ball, claiming its fifth title in the past six years.

"It was definitely an emotional game today but I was super proud and happy the way the girls came back," says CSUDH soccer assistant coach Jeff Tuttle. "We had a lot of adversity, losing a co-captain and leader in Sandy, the coach, and being down 4-1, but coming back to make it 4-3 and having some chances at the end showed a lot of character. We took a lot of positives from the negatives and are looking forward to the playoffs. We're going to be fine."

The Toros fate lies in the hands of the NCAA selection committee, as their locale and first round opponent will be announced on Monday, November 7.