September 5, 2006

Box Score

Carson, CA -- Junior Sammy Rivas' (Long Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) goals at the 5:24 and 70:55 marks bookended a pair of unanswered Grand Canyon goals, and set up Wilmer Lopez (Inglewood, CA/Inglewood HS) with the game-winner with just under eight minutes left in regulation as the Toros bested a game Antelope club, 3-2, on Tuesday night in Toro Stadium. With the win, CSUDH remains perfect at 4-0, while GCU still is in search of its first win of the new season (0-3).

After seeing its starting keeper injured during warm-ups, GCU became even more shell-shocked just five minutes into the contest as Rivas scored his firt goal of the season, taking a deflection off an attempted GCU clearance. The Antelopes, however, would not be phased as Stephen Clayton set up Andrew Bailey on the left side just seven minutes later, who beat CSUDH keeper Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) to the near post for the equalizer, the first goal in four games the Toros had allowed.

After Alex Neve gave the 'Lopes a 2-1 lead entering the half, the scored remained frozen until the 70:55 mark when Rivas again found the back of the net, flicking his header to the far post after securing a rebound from a Humberto Lopez (Bellflower, CA/Cerritos College) blast. Knotted at 2-2, the intensity increased as GCU was given both a yellow and red card at the 71:51 mark, giving CSUDH a one-man advantage. Using it to out-shoot GCU 13-4 in the second half, Lopez was “Wilmer on the spot” at 82:17, as he netted a rebound off a Mario Guerrero (Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) blocked shot for the game-winner, his second in just four games.

The Toros out-shot GCU 24-13 in the contest as both Polak and GCU keeper Franco Carotenuto each made five saves, while CSUDH enjoyed a 4-2 advantage in corners.

The Toros kick off CCAA action on Friday, September 8, as Cal Poly Pomona pays Carson a visit for a 4:30 p.m. first kick.