Toros Dethroned as National Champs, Lose to Tampa 2-1
Spartans second goal in final ten minutes dooms Toros in title game
December 2, 2001

TAMPA, FL—University of Tampa scored two goals in the final ten minutes of play to capture the 2001 NCAA II National Championship over Cal State Dominguez Hills today 2-1 in Tampa, FL.

CSUDH, the defending NCAA II champs, took an early lead scoring at the 1:19 mark. Senior All-America defender Joe Cartlidge (Redondo Union HS) headed in a corner kick from Sean Lockhart (Palm Springs HS) giving the Toros a 1-0 lead. Both defenses would hold the contest scoreless the rest of the first half.

“The game couldn’t have started off any better,” said Toros head coach Joe Flanagan. “I thought it was important to get the lead on Tampa.”

Junior midfielder Isidro Torres (Millikan HS) nearly made it 2-0 in the 55th minute, however, his open net shot was sent well over the goal. Tampa appeared to have scored the equalizer in the 57th minute, but the goal was called back due to a handball foul inside the box.

Jason Bell was able to tally the equalizer in the 80th minute on a header. Josh Huettich sent a long cross from the right side inside the box finding the head of Bell making it 1-1.

Six minutes later at 86:20, Kareem Escayg hit a fortunate shot that found the back of the net. From 40 yards away, Escayg’s shot hit the back of the neck of Toros defender Sean Silveri (Valencia HS) then deflected over the head of CSUDH goalie Luis Morales (Banning HS) for the game-winning goal.

“I thought we were playing not to win but to not to lose in the final ten minutes,” said Flanagan. “We let them dictate the pace of the game in the second half,” continued Flanagan. “The tempo of the game was the key.”

CSUDH’s six-game winning streak came to an end today. The Toros complete the 2001 season with a 20-3-1 record. Tampa completes the season 19-0-2 while winning their third national championship (1981 & 1994).

Three Cal State Dominguez Hills players were named to the 2001 NCAA II Men’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team. They were: Junior forward Scott White, senior defender Joe Cartlidge and senior goalkeeper Luis Morales. Morales was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.