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No. 5 Toros Can't
Hold Lead, Upset in Overtime of Men's Soccer Regional by Sonoma
State, 3-2 |
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CARSON, Calif.- Cal State Dominguez Hills saw its soccer season end earlier than expected when Sonoma State's Tony Bussard recorded a hat trick, the third goal coming in the second overtime period, to propel the Seawolves to a 3-2 victory in the NCAA II Far West Region Championship Saturday at Toro Field. Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 5 in this week's NSCAA/adidas poll, completes the season at 18-4-1. It was the team's first loss at home since September 2, 2000, a 0-1 decision to The Master's College. No. 13 Sonoma State is now 17-3-1 and advances to the quarterfinals on November 23 or 24 against the winner of the Midwest Regional between Incarnate Word (TX) and Midwestern State (TX) at a site yet to be determined. Bussard's game-winner capped a tremendous second half comeback as Sonoma State found themselves down 2-0 in the 59th minute. At 62:37 Bussard cut the lead to 2-1 taking a nice cross at the top of the box from Brandon Boone. Bussard trapped the ball, turned and sent his shot to the near post past CSUDH goalie Javier Barragan (LB Jordan HS). Just over eight minutes later Bussard knotted the score at 70:42. Off a direct free kick, Ryan Smith tapped a pass to Thomas Corwin at the top of the box. Corwin dribbled inside the right side of the box and sent a low cross to Bussard who one-timed his point blank shot to the near post, making it 2-2. Both defenses shut down offensive flurries the rest of the way sending the match into overtime. Toros senior all-America forward Gabriel Valencia (Salesian HS) nearly sent Sonoma State packing three minutes into the first overtime period. With SSU's goalie Matt Bernard guarding the near post, Valencia's had an open look inside the box but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Bussard didn't waste any time in the second overtime period scoring the game-winner :54 seconds in. Bussard took a lead pass from Boone near the top of the box and sent his shot past Barragan for the win. "Tony did what every kid dreams of doing," said SSU head coach Marcus Zeimer, "he scored three goals to win the championship." After a defensive battle in the first half, Cal State Dominguez Hills came out strong in the second period scoring two goals in the first 14 minutes to take a 2-0 lead. The Toros struck first in the 51st minute when sophomore midfielder Ryan Taylor (Ayala HS) took a cross from Valencia along the right side and sent a beautiful header past Bernard to the far post for a 1-0 lead. CSUDH made it 2-0 in the 59th minute when Valencia took a pass from Victor Guerrero (Century HS) along the left side. Valencia beat a defender and from 20 yards out poked his shot to the far post. The Toros defense, which led the country in shutouts with 14 coming into the match, couldn't hold the lead though as Sonoma State was able to take advantage of its opportunities and defeat the two-time defending NCAA Far West Region champ. "We were out-played in the first half," said CSUDH head coach Joe Flanagan. "We did a better job in the second playing with more intensity. But Sonoma State is a great team and I have to give them credit as they were on top of their game today and we weren't." Cal State Dominguez Hills played its final game ever at Toro Field today. CSUDH will move to a 5,000 seat soccer stadium being built on campus as a result of the construction of the Home Depot National Training Center.
Scoring Shots: SSU 21; CSUDH 20 Corner Kicks: SSU 2; CSUDH 5 Goalkeeper Saves: Matt Bernard (SSU) 6; Javier Barragan (CSUDH) 4 Fouls: SSU 16; CSUDH 16 Cautions/Ejections: CSUDH - Bench Attendance: 727 |
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