Aggressive Second-Half Pushes No. 6 Tritons Past No. 9 Toros, 3-0

Box Score

LA JOLLA -- Using a first-half goal and memories of last year's NCAA West Region Final as impetus, host and No. 6-ranked UC San Diego turned up the heat after intermission as it out-scored No. 9-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-0 and out-shot the Toros 12-4 in a physical 3-0 blanking that saw six cautions issued, with five going to the visitors.

Motivated by last year's ousting, as well as a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Cal State L.A. two days ago, the Tritons were up to the challenge from the 2009 NCAA Finalists, equaling the first half shots at four apiece.

UCSD drew first blood in the 24th minute as a Hayley Johnson bender from a corner kick found its way through the Toro defense and past keeper Alyssa Congdon inside the far post for an early 1-0 lead.

That's where the score remained until early in the second half when Triton Danielle Dixon collected a loose ball deep in CSUDH's zone, dribbled it toward the left side of the box and placed her shot past Congdon far post for a 2-0 lead.

Gabi Hernandez capped the scoring for the Tritons a minute and 16 seconds later after taking a feed from Hayley Johnson and burying her shot into the back of the net from 6 yards out.

The Toros, who hadn't allowed a goal in 2010, found the roles reversed in the second half after being out-shot 12-4, and out-cornered 6-1 by an attacking Triton offense. Overall, CSUDH managed just two of their eight shots on goal, with four attempts coming from junior Taylor Canatsey (pictured).

A physical match-up between southern California rivals, 36 fouls were called, with 24 on the Toros in front of an announced crowd of 387.

Keeper Kristin Armstrong tallied 2 saves on the day for UCSD, with Congdon posting 3 in the loss.

With the decision, both teams now sit at 3-1, 1-1 CCAA, with the Toros next set to host Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, September 17, at the Home Depot Center's Main Stadium, with first kick set for 4:30 pm.

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