September 8, 2006

Box Score

Carson, CA -- Senior Rachele McDonald (Ventura, CA/Buena HS) tallied 11 shots on the night to lead CSUDH's 30-16 shot advantage, but visiting Cal Poly Pomona notched two second half goals and held off a late Toros charge to hand CSUDH a 2-1 defeat in both teams' CCAA Conference opener Friday night at Toro Stadium. With the loss, the Toros fall to 1-4, 0-1 CCAA, while the Broncos improve to 3-1, 1-0 CCAA.

The Toros and Broncos played to a scoreless tie in the first half, despite CSUDH having two golden chances slip by the wayside. In the 32nd minute, Amy Livergood (Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS) was the beneficiary of a Toro corner kick that saw the ball land at her feet after a scramble, but proceeded to sail a point-blank shot over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless. Just six minutes later, CSUDH appeared to take the lead on a perfect Corrie Hirokawa (Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS) cross to McDonald inside the box, but McDonald's header was nullified on an offsides call.

After the break, CPP got into the offensive action as Pamela Leyva rocketed a shot from 25 yards out in the 49th minute that Toro keeper Ashley De Alejandro (Lakewood, CA/LBCC) leapt to get a hand on and punched over the crossbar. Twenty minutes later, CPP's Bethany Meischsner out-sprinted defender Sandy Lloyd (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley HS) to a loose ball inside the Toros box and had a one-on-one opportunity against De Alejandro, but the Toro keeper broke from her line and caused Meischsner to shoot wide.

The Broncos broke the scoring drought at 72:23 as Leila Brewster slotted a through ball to Leyva, who beat De Alejandro near side for a 1-0 lead. CPP added another goal 10 minutes later as Leyva crossed to Mary Carroll, whose header somehow eluded De Alejandro and found the back of the net.

The Toros made a game of it in the 89th minute as Hirokawa slipped the ball through two Bronco defenders to the streaking McDonald, who bested CPP keeper Amanda Cunningham in a 1v1 battle.

It was too little, too late, however, as the Broncos withstood 21 shots against in the 2nd half, as well as the Toros' best second half chance in the 75th minute when McDonald twice crossed balls to Jackie Chavez (Ranco Palos Verdes, CA/Peninsula HS), who sailed one wide and the other into the waiting arms of Cunningham, both at point blank range.

The Toros rattled off 30 shots compared to the Broncos' 16, while Cunningham made five saves to De Alejandro's four. Both teams tallied five corners, while CPP was whistled for 26 fouls, compared to CSUDH's 13.

CSUDH continues CCAA action on Sunday, September 10, as Cal State San Bernardino pays Carson a visit for a 3:00 p.m. first kick.