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Men's Soccer

Tampa, Here Come the Toros!

No. 9 CSUDH advances to D-II Men's Soccer Final Four with 2-1 win over No. 3 Midwestern State

The score says it all. CSUDH is headed back to the D-II Men's Soccer Final Four
Box Score
Carson, CA -- In a battle of national heavyweights with a trip to the Division II Men's Soccer Final Four on the line, 9th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills scored two second half goals and withstood a furious Mustang rally to take a 2-1 win on a foggy night in Toro Stadium in front of a raucous crowd of 1,104, earning a trip to Florida and the men's soccer championships for the first time since 2001.

"It was a great soccer game, and I am sure that the fans enjoyed it and I definitely enjoyed it from the side," begins an elated Joe Flanagan, who coached the Toros to their last NCAA National Title in 2000.

"I think that our bench made all the difference.  When we can send in Mariano and Rover and get that kind of production, that made a difference.  Miguel Benitez had a great game and he was a difference maker tonight.

"The team was amped and antsy before the game, but I told them this is a soccer game that we have played all year and to just focus on what we have to do to win, and not do anything different.

"My goal has always been to get back to the Final Four for the players that come through this program because it is such a great experience.  To play good in a big game is a great sign.  We deserved to win, we took the chance to win and that's all you can ask for," he concludes.

Both teams came out determined from the outset, with neither defense giving an inch.  The best chance for either team came at the end of the period, with MSU's Estevao Alexandre weaving his way through the Toro defense and shuttling a pass to a hard-charging Nick Auditore just 6 feet away from the goal, but a charging Miguel Benitez helped cause Auditore's shot to drift wide, keeping the game scoreless, but serving as a harbinger for an offensive second half.

After the break, the Toros struck fast as Chris Perkins grabbed a loose ball at the top of the box and served a pass to Scott Mariano, who one-touched a ball to Jordan Rover, who sent a low line drive past MSU keeper Shawn Carr's left for the game's first score.

The Mustangs, who reached last year's Final Four with a PK win over Sonoma State, thought they answered in the 55th minute after a free kick from midfield found its way past Benitez.  Mariano, however, was at the right place at the right time and sent the ball towards midfield to quell the scoring opportunity.

MSU had another opportunity in the 58th minute as a cross got by Benitez to the foot of a Mustang striker, but Hiram Rangel saved the scoring chance with a hard tackle to keep CSUDH a goal up.

The Toros took advantage of their next opportunity four minutes later as Rover found a waiting Mariano at the 18-foot line, who directed a sharp-angled rocket past Carr for a 2-nil lead at 62:14.

Midwestern State looked to cut CSUDH's lead in half in the 69th minute as its transition game gave Craig Sutherland a clean look to Benitez's right from about 8 yards out, only to see Benitez leap and punch the ball away at its highest point, sending it over the crossbar.

MSU finally got on the board in the 84th minute as Auditore collected a loose ball on the left side, and beat Benitez left post for the Mustangs' first goal of the game.

That was too little, too late, however, as six Benitez saves, and the soccer version of "four corners" kept the Mustangs from equalizing.

CSUDH outshot MSU 15-13, but was out-cornered 7-3, including a 4-0 edge by the Mustangs after the break.

Said MSU coach Doug Elder, "It was unfortunate that we gave up that early second half goal but CSUDH is a good team and put a lot of pressure on us, shutting us down in the midfield and clearing a lot or chances.

"I have been in the playoffs enough times to know that if you can't complete those chances then you can't win the game.  The way the kids fought in the end, we pushed back with the goal and had other chances and they never quit.  They never gave up and I have to give them credit for that."

The Toros head back to the Final Four for the first time in seven years, after making back-to-back appearances in 2000 and 2001.  CSUDH will play on Friday, December 5, against the winner of host Tampa, which defeated Tusculum 3-2.  Kickoff for the prime time semifinal is set for 7:00 pm EST in Pepin Stadium.






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