| THE SCOUTING REPORT |
| SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES: Sonoma
State enters the weekend ranked No. 13 in the country with a
16-3-1 overall record. The Seawolves, hosts of the 2002 CCAA
Tournament, took an indirect route to the postseason. Sonoma
tied Cal State Bakersfield in the semifinals, 2-2, but did not
advance after Bakersfield won in a shootout, 3-2. That tie,
coupled with Bakersfield's third loss of the season to the
Toros, propelled SSU to this weekend's regional championship.
SSU has four players with 20 or more points, led by midfielder
Briane Coyne (23 pts.). Goalie Matt Bernard has five shutouts to
his credit to go along with a 0.87 GAA. |
|
TOROS/SEAWOLVES SERIES NOTES:
In 10 meetings, the Toros hold an 8-2-0 series advantage.
CSUDH is 5-1-0 at home against the Seawolves and 2-1-0 at
Sonoma. CSUDH is 1-0-0 on a neutral field. Earlier this year,
the Toros defeated SSU, 2-0, in Carson behind goals from
Eduardo Serrano and Scott White. |
THIS WEEK IN TOROS SOCCER
NCAA II FAR WEST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 16 #5 CSUDH vs. #13 Sonoma State University Toro Field, 1 PM
A QUICK LOOK BACK:
The Toros captured their fourth consecutive CCAA crown last
weekend at the CCAA Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. CSUDH
did not allow a goal in defeating UC San Diego, 1-0, in the
semifinal followed by a 2-0 shutout over Cal State Bakersfield in
the championship match.
LOOKING AHEAD:
With the Toros locking up the No. 1 ranking in the Far West
Region over the weekend, CSUDH will host Sonoma State for the Far
West Region Championship this weekend. The winner will advance to
the NCAA II Quarterfinals against the Midwest Region Champion on
Nov. 23 or 24
TOROS WIN FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CCAA CROWN:
Eduardo Serrano and Ryan Taylor (Ayala HS) each scored
second-half goals to lead the Toros to a 2-0 win over rival Cal
State Bakersfield in the final of the 2002 California Collegiate
Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championship. The win gave the
Toros their fourth straight CCAA crown, the most consecutive
titles since Cal State Northridge won six in a row from 1984-89,
including a co-championship with CSUDH in 1988.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked 6th in NCAA
Division II, improved to 18-3-1 on the season. Bakersfield, ranked
10th nationally, dropped to 17-4-1.
The Toros and Cal State Bakersfield played a
scoreless first half, though CSUB couldn't take advantage of a
golden opportunity in the seventh minute. Kyle Gookins drive from
the left side was inadvertently touched in the penalty box by
CSUDH defender Sean Silveri (Valencia HS). That set up a penalty
kick for Fabian Sandoval, but Sandoval's attempt right was stymied
by Toro goalie Javier Barragan (LB Jordan HS).
"Javier doesn't get the credit he
deserves," Toro coach Joe Flanagan said. "That save was
huge and is a testament to the fact that he's one of the best
keepers in the CCAA."
Barragan's save was one of several terrific
defensive efforts made by both clubs. Less than four minutes into
the second half, momentum shifted to the three-time defending
champions for good. Bakersfield's Sandoval was assessed a red card
for kicking fallen CSUDH midfielder Eddie Gonzales-Pinto (N.
Torrance HS) following a dead ball. The Toros converted the
one-man advantage less than two minutes later when Serrano took a
slot pass from Jaret Minami (W. Torrance HS) and fired the
game-winning goal under and to the left of CSUB goalie Josh Wicks
at 50:31.
Taylor iced the Toros' fourth straight CCAA
crown when his blast from the right side in the 81st minute
ricocheted off Wicks' hands over his head and inside the upper far
post. Cal State Dominguez Hills' outshot Bakersfield 23-8, thanks
in large part to its staunch defense.
"Our strength is in the back, and
our defenders battle hard and play hard for each other,"
Flanagan said. "Any loose ball, we do a good job of pouncing
on it."
TOROS DEFEAT UC SAN DIEGO IN CCAA
SEMIFINAL:
Rick Cobb's (Warren HS) first goal of the year, coupled with a
tough Toros defense, powered three-time defending league champion
Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 1-0 win over UC San Diego in the
first semifinal of the 2002 California Collegiate Athletic
Association Men's Soccer Championship. Cobb, a sophomore defender
from Downey, CA picked a perfect time to register his first goal
of the season when he one-timed his shot to the far post at the
7:42 minute mark. Chris Wimmer (Fountain Valley HS) crossed the
ball inside the box from the right side to Eddie Gonzales-Pinto
who headed his pass back to the right side finding Cobb's feet for
the 1-0 lead. The Toros defense did the rest of the work while
recording their 13th shutout of the year.
EIGHT MEN IN:
Eight players were selected to the 2002 All-CCAA squads,
including five alone on the First Team, a school record. Forwards
Scott White, Eduardo Serrano; midfielders Rick Cobb and Victor
Guerrero along with defender Sean Silveri were selected to the
All-CCAA First Team. Forward Gabriel Valencia (Salesian HS) and
defender Nathan Reeves (Lakewood HS) were honored on the Second
Team. Goalie Javier Barragan earned Honorable Mention honors
despite leading the CCAA in shutouts (9) and goals against average
(0.73).
TOROS "FOUR-MIDABLE" IN CCAA
TOURNEY:
In four CCAA tournament appearances, the Toros are now a
perfect 8-0 with four conference crowns. The closest CCAA squad,
in terms of wins at the annual tournament, is Grand Canyon at 3-3.
SPEAKING OF CONFERENCE RECORDS:
Here's a number for you: 48-8-1. That is the Toros record in CCAA
play over the past four seasons (1999-02) for an impressive .851
win percentage. The mark over the past three seasons is even more
impressive: 39-2-1 for an amazing .940 winning percentage. It
doesn't get much better than that!
TOROS IN THE POSTSEASON:
The Toros will be making their fifth NCAA appearance while
posting an impressive 7-3-0 all-time record in postseason play.
CSUDH's first appearance was in 1982 where they lost in the
quarterfinals (0-2) to Missouri-St. Louis. The team then qualified
for the NCAA's in 1988 but lost to Cal State Northridge 3-1 in the
opening round. In that game, current head coach Joe Flanagan
scored the Toros lone goal. An 11-year NCAA playoff drought was
followed by a magical season in 2000 which culminated in the Toros
first-ever Men's Soccer NCAA National Championship. In 2001, the
Toros advanced to the championship game again, only to lose to
host Tampa, 2-1, in the final minutes.
STANDING TALL WITH SIX FEAT:
The Toros tied the all-time mark for most conference crowns (6)
since the CCAA started sponsoring men's soccer in 1979. Former
CCAA member Cal State Northridge also won six titles ('84, '85,
'86, '87, '88, & '89) before they moved to NCAA Division I. No
current CCAA school has more titles than the Toros ('82, '88, '99,
'00, '01 & '02).
DOWN AND OUT, BUT NOW BACK IN:
Forward Scott White (Sonora HS) has been out the past four games
nursing a knee injury. At the time of injury, White, a 2002 First
Team All-CCAA selection, had 16 points on 6 goals and 4 assists.
Now the senior is set to return which will put the Toros offense
at full strength heading into the NCAA postseason. That is not
good news for the opposition. With White out of the lineup, CSUDH
still outscored opponents 11-4. The addition of arguably the
fastest player in the CCAA, makes an already potent Toro offense
even more "four-midable."
TOROS SHATTER SHUTOUT RECORD:
Heading into the CCAA tourney, the Toros were tied for most
shutouts in a season (12). The squad now has 14 after blanking UC
San Diego and Bakersfield, setting the new standard in only 22
games this year.
THE CHARGE OF THE TOROS:
CSUDH is now 18-3-1 overall and finished with a 13-1-0 mark in
CCAA play. The Toros have won its past five games and eight of the
last nine. The Toros are 10-0-1 at home, 6-3-0 on the road and
2-0-0 at a neutral site. Serrano paces the Toros balanced attack
which includes seven players in double figures. Serrano's 33
points (15g, 3a) move him into a tie for 9th for most points in a
season in the CSUDH record books. The 6-1 junior also leads the
squad with six game-winning shots. Play-maker Victor Guerrero
leads the team with 11 assists and has 21 points on the year. In
between the posts, Barragan has been nothing short of spectacular.
The 6-0 junior has registered a 0.73 GAA and nine shutouts. He has
allowed only 14 goals while making 71 saves in 21 games.
TOROS SPORTS HOTLINE:
For results, schedules and other information on Toros soccer,
call the Toros Sports Hotline 24 hours a day at (310) 243-3174.
TOROS ON THE WEB:
Follow Toros athletics on the web. For latest scores, recaps and
statistics, just stay where you are! |
