October 15, 2006

Box Score

Carson, CA -- Two days after claiming the top spot in the CCAA's south division, the Toros hosted a Cal State L.A. men's soccer squad that played with more urgency, and the result was a 2-1 Golden Eagle win. CSULA vaults to the top spot in the south, spoiling Sunday afternoon's “Senior Day” at Toro Stadium.

The Toros, now 11-6-1, 7-6-1 CCAA, controlled play early and had a chance to put up the game's first goal, but a header from Shogo Okuma (Okinawa, Japan/ELAC) in the 5th minute was snagged by lunging CSULA keeper Noe David, keeping the game scoreless. Humberto Lopez (Bellfower, CA/Cerritos College) also had a chance in the 31st minute, but his on-the-run attempt sailed wide of the goal.

The visitors, now at 9-7-1, 8-6 CCAA, made their own momentum in the 34th minute as Marvin Sandoval received a through ball at point-blank range, but was stoned Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton). Two minutes later, however, CSULA found the back of the net as Derrek Horn took a throw-in from Jason Swope and headed his shot past Polak far post for a 1-0 lead, where it remained heading into the half.

Horn continued his scoring touch after intermission as he took a slip pass from Morten Marthinsen and beat Polak far post from 10 yards out at 50:19, and nearly made it a hat trick in the 58th minute, but his shot from a Marthinsen cross sailed high and wide.

The Toros' Mario Guerrero (Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) tried to cut the lead in half, but his 15-yard run down the right side in between two Golden Eagle defenders in the 67th minute resulted in a shot gone wide.

Swope gave CSULA a chance for a 3-0 lead in the 74th minute, but a fast-charging Polak thwarted Swope's plans and kept the Toros in the game.

CSUDH's Devin Toohey (Santa Paula, CA/Ventura College) came within inches of netting the Toros' first goal, but his uncontested shot from 15 yards dribbled just wide of the goal in the 85th minute. Never saying die, however, Sammy Rivas (Long Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) found himself in front of the CSULA net after a rebounded cross in front of the CSULA goal and cut the lead in half with his 7th goal of the season, but it proved too little too late as the Golden Eagles completed the season sweep of the Toros with the win.

Both offenses were opportunistic all game with 12 off sides called between the two teams, including eight alone in the first half. The Toros tallied a 16-8 shooting advantage in the second half to give them a 22-14 edge in the game, while Polak notched 5 saves compared to David's nine.

The Toros honored seniors Jesse Graham (San Diego, CA/Pt. Loma HS), Wilmer Lopez (Inglewood, CA/Inglewood HS), Okuma, Polak and LJ Reinhardt (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/LMU) playing in their last regular season home game in Toro Stadium in a pre-game ceremony, and finish the regular season on the road with games next weekend at Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, October 20, and at San Francisco State two days later.