Toros Win Showdown of Top Two Men's Soccer Teams in West Region, 2-0
Eduardo Serrano scores game-winner early in second half as CSUDH shutsout Sonoma State
October 11, 2002

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.- Cal State Dominguez Hills came out on top in a battle of the top two teams in the NCAA II Far West Region as the Toros defeated Sonoma State 2-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action today at Toro Field.

CSUDH (11-2-1, 8-0-0 CCAA) rebounded nicely after coming back home from a horrid two-game road trip last week in the Northwest which saw the Toros lose two consecutive games for the first time in nearly three years. Despite the tough trip, Cal State Dominguez Hills came in as the No. 1-ranked team in the region. Sonoma entered today's match as the No. 2 squad and would have solidified their shot at postseason play with a victory today.

After a very physical scoreless first half, Cal State Dominguez Hills got the game-winner at 48:20 when forward Eduardo Serrano scored his 10th goal of the season. On a free kick, Eddie Gonzales-Pinto (N. Torrance HS) tapped the ball to Serrano who wrapped his shot around the Sonoma wall to the far post from 20 yards out.

Forward Scott White (Sonora HS) made it 2-0 when he accepted the ball from Rick Cobb (Warren HS) at the 40-yard line, beat two defenders then SSU goalie Matt Bernard to the near post for his 5th goal of the year.

Sonoma State (11-2-0, 6-2-0 CCAA) almost cut the lead in half in the 63rd minute, but Tony Bussard's shot from the left side of the box hit the near post and ricocheted out where it was cleared.

The Seawolves out-shot CSUDH 15-8 in the game, including a 11-4 advantage in the second half, but the Toros defensive line came up big blocking several Sonoma shots at the top of the box.

Toros goalie Javier Barragan (LB Jordan HS) earns his seventh shutout of the season with five saves between the bars. Matt Bernard took the loss while making three saves in the game.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 5 in the latest national polls, will be back in action on Sunday hosting San Francisco State at 12:30 p.m. Sonoma, ranked No. 11 nationally, will continue their Southern California swing on Sunday with a game at Cal State L.A.