CARSON –
Zane Baumgardt and
Michael McKibbin each scored a goal,
Sulaiman Bah assisted both of those along with
Martin Velasquez in the first one as the No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team edged Sonoma State 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park to snap a pair of skids Thursday.
The Toros, who remain undefeated at 10-0-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the CCAA, picked up their first 10-win season since 2017. It is also the first time in three seasons that Dominguez Hills not only scored a goal but picked up a win inside the home of the LA Galaxy. The last win at Dignity Health Sports Park was in 2018 against the very same Sonoma State program in overtime fashion.
Baumgardt's goal endless the scoreless drought for the Toros in the 13
th minute. Velasquez took a corner kick from the right side, Bah got a header to Baumgardt near the left post for the finishing touch.
The Seawolves got the last shot at the half. At the moment the PA announcer countdown the final five seconds of the period, Jvon Cunningham got a foot before the clock hit zero hitting the upper right corner that was knocked above the post by Toro keeper
Sebastian Ascencio.
Cunningham became cunning again midway through the second half. In the 69
th minute, he took a shot to the upper left corner of the goal but was brilliantly blocked again by Ascencio.
The Toros came up close again in the 71
st minute. Although Sonoma's defense kept the window tight, the Toros found an opportunity but Velasquez's shot was saved by Sonoma keeper Reinier ter Riet.
Sonoma had a golden chance to tie the match in the 74
th minute when it was awarded a penalty kick. It became the third penalty kick opportunity home this season. The first two were stopped by
Frank Aguilar including one in last Sunday's match against Cal State San Bernardino. With Ascencio now between the posts, he made a dive to his right and managed to get a leg to deflect the shot and keep Sonoma off the board.
Dominguez Hills did cash in an insurance goal in the 76
th minute that proved to be much needed. Bah fed a pass to McKibbin in the goal box for a trap-and-shoot to put the Toros ahead 2-0.
The goal proved to be critical as Sonoma answered back with a goal 31 seconds later to slice the deficit in half.
The Toros will make a brief trip to the City by the Bay Sunday to play San Francisco State. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m.
