TURLOCK - The Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer team was picked to finish 13th in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Preseason Poll and were 1-5-1 at the start of October. The Toros finished the regular season 7-2-1 in their final 10 games to qualify for the conference tournament for the first time in a decade as the fifth seed.
Unfortunately, the run came to an end with a heartbreaking overtime loss at fourth-seeded Stanislaus State (15-4, 8-4) in the first round of the CCAA Tournament by a score of 2-1, Tuesday at Warrior Stadium.
CSUDH concludes its 2019 campaign at 8-8-2, a five-game win improvement from last season's record of 3-10-4.
In a back-and-forth first half, the Toros had a 6-5 shot advantage, but gave up a goal in the 42nd minute on a Stanislaus State penalty kick, after a foul in the box, from Ilena Rivera and went into halftime down 1-0.
CSUDH, as it has been all season, showed resiliency and bounced back to equalize in the fourth minute of the second half. Sophomore
Patricia Rubio-Martinez dribbled up the left side and hit a cross to junior
Holly Kaemerle who collected the ball and beat the Warrior goalkeeper Alyssa Herman to the lower right corner of the frame for the goal. It was Kaemerle's team-leading ninth goal of the season.
The contest was level after 90 minutes, 1-1, and went into sudden-victory overtime. Stanislaus State ended it in the second minute of the extra period on a header from Sadie Ortiz.
Looking into the crystal ball, the Toros look promising as they only graduate three seniors in
Meana Asuncion,
Chrystal Dorado and
Alyssa Dunphy, and return all 11 starters from this game for the 2020 season.
