CARSON – The 2022 season has been both difficult and heartbreaking for the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer team. But
Azalia Salazar delivered a gift for the eight seniors playing their final match at Toro Stadium Sunday: a win.
With 30 seconds remaining in the match, it appeared that the Toros were on the verge of recording their third tie in the last four matches. The Pioneers were about to clear the ball out of their goal box when
Lucia Yanez reclaimed possession and the sophomore Salazar took a shot from the top of the box that ended up in the back of the net to propel the Toros to a 3-2 score over Cal State East Bay to earn the first win of the season.
It was the final match for seniors
Alyssa Newsom,
Taleah Carter, Regina Molina-Sanchez,
Jordan Barber,
Lexi Howard,
Sofia Velazquez,
Sabrina Barata and
Kekoa Nelson.
East Bay (2-9-3, 0-7-1 CCAA) played aggressively against Dominguez Hills. It even outshot the Toros 22-12 overall, 12-7 on goal. The keeper Newsom had to make another career-high nine saves for the second straight match.
The Toros got its first lead in 12 matches when Nelson scored on a penalty kick in the 11
th minute. The Pioneers responded three minutes later with the tying goal and eventually took the lead in the 38
th minute.
The Pioneers kept the aggression going in the second half, forcing Newsom to make seven her nine saves in the period.
Dominguez Hills managed to get the tying goal in fashion. In the 52
nd minute,
Lucia Yanez brilliantly won a one-on-one matchup with the defender on the left side and crossed it in for Barata to head in the tying goal.
The Toros hit the road for the three remaining matches, starting Friday at Chico State. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
