Fourth-Ranked CSUDH Ties CS San Bernardino, 2-2, in Regular Season Finale

Box Score

San Bernardino, CA -- Freshman Greg Piechota connected for his third goal in his last two games, and that was enough to help the No. 4-ranked Toros salvage a 2-2 double overtime tie at Cal State San Bernardino in the regular season finale for both teams. The deadlock moves CSUDH to 16-2-2, 10-2-2 CCAA, and secures a date against Chico State on Friday at 11:00 am, in the first men's semifinal of the CCAA Soccer Championships.

Carmelo Terranova converted a header into the Coyotes goal in the 83^rd minute of regulation to rally the Toros, who slipped behind 2-1 just a minute earlier on a goal by CSUSB senior defender Jeff Meyer, his fourth of the season.

The Coyotes opened the scoring in the 28^th minute of the first half on a header by junior defender Ryan Larson off a free kick from junior Jeremiah Marquez. It was Larson's first goal of the season.

Piechota responded for the Toros with his seventh goal of the season in the 40^th minute from an assist by Scott Mariano to make it 1-1 at the half.

Meyer's go-ahead goal came as Toros goalkeeper Miguel Benitez tried to dive on the ball but Meyer got his foot on the ball fed to him by senior Miguel Alatorre before Benitez could take control.

Seventy-three seconds later, Terranova finished a header from Chris Perkins with a header of his own for the equalizer.

The two teams battled through two 10-minute overtimes with no change in the result.

CSUSB outshot the Toros 14-12 but the Toros had more shots on goal, requiring sophomore keeper Arath DeLaRocha to make seven saves. Benitez stopped two shots.

The Toros and Wildcats hook up for the second meeting between the two teams after Chico State handed CSUDH a 3-1 loss on October 10, the only blemish in the Toros' last 11 contests.

(Courtesy CSUSB)

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