Box Score Box score
La Jolla, CA – Returning to the site of their 2006 CCAA Championship, the 4th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team opened defense of its two-consecutive titles by advancing 5-3 on penalty kicks over Chico State at the Triton Soccer Field, the clincher courtesy of senior Alberto Garcia, after a 1-1 double-overtime tie in regulation. Now 16-2-3, the Toros will take on Sonoma State, which defeated Cal State L.A. 2-1 in the other semifinal, on Sunday at 11:30 am.
The Toros were in full attack mode early, keeping the ball deep in the Wildcat zone the majority of the first 45-minute half, including two attempts from Kyle Holland, the latter being a one-timed header gone high in the 30th minute.
That changed, however, in the 41:57 as Holland sent a pass to Brian Alvarez to the left of the Chico keeper, and Alvarez sent a screamer past a diving Michael Keohane far post and buried in into the lower corner of the net to give CSUDH a 1-0 lead entering the half.
Chico State came out of the break inspired, taking advantage of a defensive miscommunication deep in the Toro zone. At 49:37, a cross from Kyle Craig into the Toro zone went untouched, allowing Benjamin Moukoko to slip underneath the defense and send his shot past keeper Miguel Benitez far post, evening the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats nearly took the lead in the 55th minute as Moukoko dribbled past a Toro defender and took a wide open look that hit the crossbar, and Zac Crim's rebound attempt sailed wide, keeping the game tied.
Chico State again put pressure on the Toros in the 81st minute by unleashing a flurry of shots deep in CSUDH's zone, but a Benitez save, two blocks by different Toro defenders and an errant shot kept the Wildcats out of the net.
The Toros respond a minute later as an Alvarez knuckleball was sent towards CSUC's goal, but Keohane successfully collected the line drive as a waiting Holland could only watch.
CSUDH had another chance with under two minutes remaining after Hiram Rangel fed Kevin Gallaugher to the right of the keeper, but Gallaugher's attempt went just outside the far post, nullifying the attack, and sending the game into overtime.
After two scoreless overtime periods, it took penalty kicks to decide the game as all five Toros converted, including senior Garcia with the 5th and final PK to decide the contest. Prior to Garcia's attempt and conversion, keeper Benitez denied Chico State's 4th shot by Kyle Conrad with a sprawling one-handed dive to his right to set up Garcia's eventual heroics.
The Toros outshot the Wildcats 27-15, and tallied 7 corners to CSUC's 2, while both keepers tallied 3 saves in the 110 minute draw.
CSUDH, now 16-2-3, advances to Sunday's CCAA Championship game to defend its two-consecutive titles against Sonoma State, which defeated Cal State 2-1 in the other semifinal. This marks the fifth-consecutive year the Toros have reached the CCAA Title game, and will be the third time in four years the two CCAA rivals have hooked up to decide the crown.
