CSUDH Soccer Sweeps Cal State L.A.
Francisco Corona and Candace Hearn deliver respective game-winners in Toro victories
September 29, 2004

Complete Box Scores
Men     Women

Carson, CA -- Francisco Corona (Paramount, CA/Compton HS) and Candace Hearn (Whittier, CA/Whittier HS) each played the role of hero for the Toros this afternoon against cross-town rival Cal State L.A., leading Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 3-1 win in the men’s contest and a 2-1 victory for the women in the nightcap.

With the victories, CSUDH’s men improve to 8-2-1, 4-0-1 CCAA, while the CSUDH women improve to 7-4-0, 3-2-0 CCAA. With the losses, CSULA’s men drop to 4-4-1, 2-2-1 CCAA, while the CSULA women fall to 5-5-0, 2-3-0.

The Toros’ Kei Kamara (Lawndale, CA/Leuzinger HS) continued his stellar play, notching two goals to bookend the CSUDH men’s victory in the afternoon’s first contest. After Kamara notched his first goal on a feed from Corona and Rick Cobb (Downey, CA/Warren HS) with nearly 26 minutes elapsed in the first half, Corona gave the Toros a 2-0 lead and eventual game-winner, taking his own rebound inside the box and beating the keeper to the near post.

The Toros looked to go into halftime with a two-goal cushion, but CSULA’s Morten Marthinsen received a breakaway at the 40:25 mark and beat CSUDH goalkeeper Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/Fountain Valley HS) to cut the lead in half.

The visitors were the aggressors as the second half began, outshooting the Toros 7-4 after being outshot 12-4 in the first frame. The CSUDH defense, however, would not succumb, keeping the Golden Eagles from scoring over the final 45 minutes. Kamara again found the back of the net when, at 80:00, he took a cross from Jason Koza (La Habra, CA/La Serna HS) at the top of the box and nestled the ball to the far post to account for the game’s final score.

CSUDH’s Polak notched five saves in the contest, including a sprawling one-hander in the first half, while Kamara and Corona each took six shots on the afternoon.

CSULA’s Ricky Gonzalez picked up three saves in the loss.

In the nightcap, defense set the tone in the first half as eight total shots were taken between the two teams.

After intermission, however, freshman sensation Corrie Hirokawa (Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS) broke the scoreless tie at the 74:14 mark as she chipped her shot over CSULA goalie Reyna Coca after receiving a perfect pass from Kristen Walsh (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS).

Seven minutes later, CSULA’s Josee Busilacchi knotted the score at 1-1 when she connected to the far post on a feed from Erica Jacalone. The Golden Eagle momentum was short lived as the Toros’ Hearn answered 15 seconds later, however, benefitting from a scramble at the mouth and pushing the ball past Coca for her first career goal to account for the game winner.

CSUDH goalkeeper Mallory Dominguez (San Pedro, CA/Mary Star of the Sea HS) tallied four saves in the win, while CSULA’s Coca saved nine balls in the loss.

As a team, the Toros outshot the Golden Eagles 20-12.

The Toros face Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, October 2. Kickoff for the women is at 2:00 p.m., followed by the men at 4:00 p.m.