No. 3 Toros Hold On for 2-1 Victory over Chico State
Rick Cobb tallies game-winning goal in 59th minute to propel CSUDH to CCAA conference win
October 14, 2001

CARSON, Calif.-Despite playing a man up the entire second half, the Toros 2-1 win today over Chico State didn't come easy. Rick Cobb's (Warren HS) highlight header from 15-yards away turned out to be the game-winner as Cal State Dominguez Hills held on for the California Collegiate Athletic Association victory at Toro Field.

The game was literally deadlocked for the first half as both teams held each other scoreless for the first 45 minutes. However, Chico's Ian Marshall was ejected for violent conduct just seconds before halftime when he was involved in a scramble for the ball in front of CSUDH's goal.

The Toros, now playing up a man beginning the second half, made the Wildcats pay when senior midfielder Sean Lockhart (Palm Springs HS) put CSUDH up 1-0. Lockhart took a short pass from inside the box at 54:03 from senior defender Kyle Thornton (W. Torrance HS), collected and turned slipping the ball under the outstretched Chico goalie Dustin Eastment.

CSUDH (13-1-1, 10-0-1 CCAA) took a 2-0 lead at 59:19 when freshman defender Nathan Reeves (Lakewood HS) sent a beautiful crossing pass just inside the box to Rick Cobb who won the ball, and headed his shot to the back of the net.

Down a man, Chico State (8-7, 4-6 CCAA) continued to put pressure on the Toros defense. They finally broke through when Andy Pearce took a nice cross from the right flank and one-timed his shot to the far post at 78:00 cutting the lead to 2-1. But CSUDH's defense would hold on shutting out the Wildcats the rest of the way for the win.

The Toros held a slight 12-10 shot advantage in the game. Goalkeeper Luis Morales (Banning HS) won his 13th game of the year making two saves in goal. Chico's Dustin Eastment suffered the loss in the net while making six saves.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 3 in the latest NSCAA polls, hits the road for two games. The Toros will play at Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday beginning at 3:00 p.m.