November 2, 2006

Box Score

Seattle University's Pat Thomas tapped in a 14-yard sitter to give the Redhawks a 2-1 overtime win over host Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second semifinal match of the NCAA Far West Region Men's Soccer Championship. In an earlier match at Toro Stadium, Cal State L.A. defeated Seattle Pacific 2-1. The Golden Eagles and Redhawks will play for the region title Saturday afternoon.

Seattle U. 2, Cal State Dominguez Hills 2 (OT) Box Score
Carson, CA -- Seattle University's Pat Thomas tapped in a 14-yard sitter after CSUDH's keeper Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) and defender Alberto Garcia (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara HS) collided outside the Toros box, ending CSUDH's season and sending the Redhawks into Saturday night's Far West Region Title game against Cal State L.A., a 2-1 winner over Seattle Pacific in the day's first match.

Cal State Dominguez Hills finishes at 15-7-1, while Seattle University improves to 12-7-0.

The Redhawks were the aggressors from the game's onset, pressuring the Toro defense for the first 10 minutes of play. Their aggression nearly paid off in the 15th minute as Thomas dribbled nearly the length of the field through four Toro defenders, ultimately sailing his shot wide of a diving Polak.

CSUDH got its first sniff at an offensive attack after Wilmer Lopez (Inglewood, CA/Inglewood HS) entered the game in the 37th minute, delivering a lead to Mario Guerrero (Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) four minutes later that was intercepted by SU keeper Jordan Jennings, who came out of his box to keep the game scoreless heading into the half.

Just three minutes into the second session, Seattle notched the game's first goal. After John Fishbaugher sent his 15-yard blast off Polak's body, Hans Esterhuizen found himself in prime position for the rebound, finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Redhawks nearly duplicated that possession a minute later, but Garcia saved the sure score with a tremendous defensive effort at the mouth of the goal, keeping CSUDH in striking distance.

That save would provide much-needed momentum to the Toros, who would capitalize 15 minutes later. After a Jesse Graham (San Diego, CA/Pt. Loma HS) cross met an oncoming Jose Serpas (Costa Mesa, CA/Orange Coast College), Serpas shuttled his own cross to Humberto Lopez (Bellflower, CA/Cerritos College), who sent a screamer that hit the top corner of the net to knot the game at 1-1.

The Toros were a different team after Lopez's equalizer, spurred by Graham's and Wilmer Lopez's charges.

In the 75th minute, Guerrero sent a through ball to Kyle Holland (Redondo Beach, CA/DeAnza College) down the right side of the field, who sent a rising shot towards the goal that sailed just over the crossbar.

The Toros nearly won it in regulation as Humberto Lopez sent a cross to Graham with 1:40 left in regulation, but Graham's blast ricocheted off the post, and Serpas' rebound attempt was blocked, sending the game into overtime.

Just seconds into the extra frame, pressure from the Seattle defense forced the ball back into the Toro zone where Polak and Garcia collided, and Thomas put away the gimme.

Seattle head coach Brad Agoos:
“I think it was a great game overall, and I was really proud of our team. CSUDH is a great team and it could've gone either way. The winning goal was a little bit of being in the right place at the right time and Pat was able to finish when he had the chance. I think CSULA is a very good team that has some very talented forwards and I think they've done well all year. It's going to be a very good game.”

CSUDH head coach Joe Flanagan:
“I thought we played one of our better games, especially in the second half. We had some great chances to score, but weren't lucky enough to put them away. We were a little more patient with our passing after the break, and really found our rhythm. The way our guys played the second half, I really couldn't ask much more from them. The game of soccer is about creating chances, and we did it and were just a little unlucky at the end of the day.”

Seattle will face CCAA runner-up Cal State L.A. on Saturday night for the Far West crown, with first kick scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Toro Stadium.

Cal State L.A. 2, Seattle Pacific 1 Box Score
CARSON, Calif. -- Cal State L.A.‚s Morten Marthinsen and Jaime Gomez each scored first half goals to lead the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific in the opening round of the 2006 NCAA Championship Tournament, held on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Golden Eagles improve to 13-8-1 and advance to Saturday's second round of the Tournament against the winner of the nightcap featuring Seattle University and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Seattle Pacific's David Reuhl gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead just 1:38 into the game, using a deflection to find the back of the net from 24 yards out. CSULA had a chance to equalize just minutes later, but AJ Matthews sailed his sitter high, keeping the Falcons on top.

At 32:26, CSULA‚s Marthinsen found himself alone to the left of SPU goalie Kellen Rosten, and the 1st-team All-CCAA forward wasted no time in seizing the opportunity by blasting his shot off Rosten‚s hands and into the net for the tie.

The Golden Eagles‚ Jaime Gomez put CSULA ahead for good 11 minutes later as he took a loose ball in front of SPU‚s goal, and sent his half-volley by Rosten for what would prove to be the game-winner.

SPU had a golden change to equalize late but Drew Macha‚s shot from 8 yards away was saved by leaping midfielder Kyle Hewitt, preserving the CSULA win.

CSULA's Patrick Fry tallied four saves in the win, while SPU keeper Kellen Rosten saved three shots in the loss.

With the win, CSULA‚s first in the NCAA since 1992, the Golden Eagles advance to the second round of the NCAA Championships where they await the winner of the Cal State Dominguez Hills-Seattle match. The Far West Regional Championship match will be played on Saturday on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7 p.m.

SPU head coach Cliff McCrath:
“They're an excellent team. They've got quick, strong players, and they came back and that flurry they put on for about 10 minutes was as good as I've seen. We had our chances; we thought that last shot was in, but that's the game of soccer.”

CSULA head coach Chris Chamides:
“I think we just needed to get rid of some nerves at the start. We gave up something early, but found a way to keep fighting and let opportunities come our way and we took advantage of it. We don't have a preference as to who we play. We haven't seen Seattle yet, so this would be the first time we'll watch them play. Obviously, Dominguez and Cal State L.A. are like cousins, we know each other quite well. We welcome the opportunity to play whomever, and we're just proud to be in the Sweet 16. I told my team I was proud of them and they battled hard to make a little bit of a comeback and see the game through in the second half. They showed a lot of character.”