Toros Battle to Draw, Then Fall in Shootout to Cal State Bakersfield in First Round of NCAA Men's Soccer Regional
CSUDH ends season at 17-3-3
November 12, 2004

Complete Box Score

Seattle, WA--(November 12, 2004)—No. 9-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Bakersfield battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw during the first round of the NCAA Far West regional playoffs held at Seattle University Friday afternoon on Championship Field.

CS Bakersfield advanced to the regional championship game on Sunday against host Seattle University with a 5-4 edge during the penalty kick shootout phase of the game.

CSUDH completes the season with a 17-3-3 record while CSUB is now 15-4-4.

The game was an epic battle between two of the top teams in the region. Both sides had scoring opportunities, but both goalies made highlight saves to preserve the scoreless tie.

It looked like CSUDH freshman forward Kei Kamara (Lawndale, CA/Leuzinger HS), the 2004 CCAA Player of the Year, was going to give the Toros a 1-0 lead going into the half. With three minutes remaining, Kamara had a one-on-one opportunity on the left side of the goal at close range; however, netminder Josh Wicks smothered the shot to keep it scoreless in the first 45 minutes.

Both teams had several chances in the second half but none better than when CSUB midfielder Matt O’Sullivan went one-on-one with Toro goalie Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/Fountain Valley HS). O’Sullivan dribbled past a defender and had Polak off his line, but Polak made a great save to his right to deny the ‘Runners.

Francisco Corona (Compton, CA/Compton HS), who had seven shots in the match, had an opportunity to win the game with 14 seconds left in regulation. The junior forward galloped along the right side past three defenders and into the penalty box. But his blast from six yards away was at a hard angle and Wicks made the save to send the contest into overtime.

After two scoreless ten minute extra periods, the sides lined up for penalty kicks to decide the game. The first nine shots between both teams were made before the outcome was decided. With Bakersfield up 5-4, Kamara lined up to take his shot, but Wicks guessed correctly and made the save to his left to propel CSUB to the Far West region final on Sunday.

“It’s a tough way to lose,” said CSUDH Head Coach Joe Flanagan. “I hate to see games end that way, but that’s the way it is. You have to give credit to a very good Bakersfield side. They did a good job bottling up our forwards and locking us down. I felt good about today, especially since they beat us last weekend. But it is always a battle between us and it was no different today.”

Today brings a close to the collegiate playing careers of five Toros, including all-region players Nathan Reeves (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood HS) and Rick Cobb (Downey, CA/Warren HS) who did not play today due to injury. Also finishing were seniors Jeff Kunze (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS), Ryan Taylor (Chino Hills, CA/Ayala HS), who had to sit out today due to a red card issued last week, and Michael Jimenez (Gardena, CA/Bishop Montgomery HS).

Cal State Bakersfield 0, No. 9 Cal State Dominguez Hills 0
(CSUB advances on penalty kicks, 5-4)

Cal State Bakersfield (15-4-4)     0 0 0 0 - 0 
Cal State Dominguez Hills (17-3-3) 0 0 0 0 - 0 

Scoring Summary None

Shots—CSUB 20, CSUDH 23

Fouls—CSUB 9, CSUDH 6

Corner Kicks—CSUB 5, CSUDH 3

Saves—CSUB 8 (Josh Wicks 8), CSUDH 6 (Kyle Polak 6)

Cautions/Ejections—CSUB: none; CSUDH: none.

Attendance—154