August 29, 2005

Box Score

CARSON, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills' reigning CCAA MVP Rachele McDonald's(Ventura, CA/Ventura College) goal at 83:23 proved the difference as the No. 19-ranked Toros survived a game of streaks to post a 6-5 win over visiting Western Washington. CSUDH won, coming back from a 5-3 deficit after scoring the game's first three goals.

With the win, CSUDH improves to 2-0-0 while WWU, playing in its season opener, falls to 0-1-0

The contest looked to be a Toro rout early on as CSUDH scored three goals in the first 6:20 of regulation. After an own goal at 4:23 gave CSUDH an early 1-0 lead, two goals in 13 seconds, one each by Candace Hearn (Whittier, CA/Whittier HS) and McDonald, provided breathing room for the Cardinal & Red.

The Vikings, however, would rally with five unanswered goals of their own, with the first goal, a PK by Chrissy Wohl at the 8:19 mark, giving them much needed momentum. WWU would follow with a string of three goals over a 15 minute stretch spanning the end of the first half and 13 minutes into the second period, with the Vikings' final tally a chip from 18 yards out from Kelly Gagne.

CSUDH would not relent, however, as Whitney Sanchez's (San Pedro, CA/Redondo Union HS) goal at the 79:34 mark narrowed the gap to 5-4. Just three minutes later, sophomore Tara Senff (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/South HS) blasted a shot that somehow found its way through two Viking defenders and under WWU keeper Teresa Fish's legs, knotting the score at 5-5.

Capitalizing on that momentum, McDonald gave the Toros the win with her second goal of the day, beating the keeper to the near post off a beautiful Hearn lead pass.

As a team, CSUDH kept the pressure on continually, outshooting the visitors 22-9, including a decisive 13-2 advantage after intermission. Toros freshman goalkeep Lisa Agramonte (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS), summoned into the contest with just under 26 minutes remaining in regulation, picked up the win, while Nhi Tran (Baldwin Park, CA/Citrus College) tallied three saves as the starter in goal.

For the Vikings, Fish made eight saves in the losing effort, which marked the first time since September 15, 1999, that the Toros have given up at least five goals.

CSUDH is back in non-conference action on Saturday, September 3, taking on Western Oregon in a 1:00 scheduled start on Toro Field.