Toros Advance to NCAA II Far West Regional Championship With 2-1 Women's Soccer Victory Over Seattle Pacific
CSUDH wins first postseason playoff game since 1997
November 15, 2003

Complete Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif.—The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s soccer team won their first NCAA postseason playoff game since 1997 with a 2-1 victory Saturday night over Seattle Pacific University in the semifinals of the NCAA II Far West Region Championships.

The victory improves the No. 17-ranked Toros to 17-4-1, while Seattle Pacific, ranked No. 10 nationally, ends it season at 17-2-2. Both SPU’s losses have been to CSUDH with the Toros winning an identical decision in Carson earlier this season.

It was a scoreless game until Toro midfielder Kristen Walsh (Lakewood/Mayfair HS) put CSUDH up 1-0 with just over a minute left in the first half. After a scramble inside the box, Leslie Taylor laid the ball off to Walsh at 43:18, who perfectly placed a chip over the keeper to the upper near post.

The score remained 1-0 until Michelle Sena (San Pedro/San Pedro HS) gave Cal State Dominguez Hills a 2-0 lead. At 77:55, Walsh hit a blast from the left flank from 20-yards away. Seattle Pacific goalie Jennifer Hull made a nice save but deflected the ball right to the feet of Sena who pounced on the opportunity and put the ball in the back of the net for, what would turn out to be, the game-winning score.

Shannon Lovejoy put the Falcons on the scoreboard with under a minute to play in regulation, but it was too little too late. At the 89:12 minute mark, Lovejoy hit a 40-yard blast to the upper far netting trimming the deficit to 2-1. But the CSUDH defense was able to hold on for the final minute to earn the win.

The Toros will play UC San Diego who beat Cal State San Bernardino 1-0 in the other semifinal, with the championship taking place on Monday at 7 PM.

CSUDH Head Coach Joe Flanagan couldn’t have been more pleased with his teams’ showing this evening.

“We came out and played well and were thorough for the entire 90 minutes. We were able to follow up a nice save with a nice goal, which was huge. I am happy with our performance tonight against a very good Seattle Pacific team.”