Toros Earn Berth in NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Far West Regional Playoffs
CSUDH travels to Seattle Pacific University’s Interbay Stadium for first-round action vs. UCSD
November 8, 2005

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills has earned a berth into the 2005 NCAA II Women’s Soccer Championships, it was announced earlier by the NCAA. The Far West Regional, which begins this weekend on the campus of Seattle Pacific University, will feature the unbeaten and top-seeded Falcons, 2nd-seeded UC San Diego, 3rd-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills and 4th-seeded Chico State.

The 3rd-seeded Toros (14-6-2) will open up against 2nd-seeded UC San Diego (17-3-0) for a 4:30 p.m. first kick on Thursday, November 10, in a rematch of last Sunday’s CCAA Championship game in which the Tritons took a 4-3 decision and the CCAA title. The winner of this match will advance to the Far West Regional Championship game at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, against either top-seeded Seattle Pacific (17-0-3) or 4th-seeded Chico State (14-3-3), who face each other in Thursday’s second semifinal at 7:00 p.m.

CSUDH, making its third-consecutive NCAA postseason appearance after claiming the CCAA Championship in 2004, is led by First-Team All-CCAA selections Rachele McDonald (Ventura, CA/Ventura College) and Tara Senff (Palos Verdes Estates, CA/South HS). McDonald has tallied nine goals and 30 points in her second year in Cardinal & Gold, while Senff has eight goals and 18 points in her sophomore campaign. Fellow First-Team All-CCAA honoree Katie Roche (Costa Mesa, CA/Cypress College), Second-Team All-CCAA Elizabeth Arreola (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) and Third-Team All-CCAA Sandra Lloyd (Fountain Valley, CA/Fountain Valley HS) anchor a solid CSUDH defense that has posted six shutouts and held opponents to one goal in seven contests.

"It’s an accomplishment making it to the NCAAs,” says head coach Joe Flanagan. “We are looking forward to playing our CCAA rivals in UCSD again, and hopefully will play well enough to give ourselves an opportunity to get to Saturday, and out of the tough region.”

The winner of the Far West will meet the Midwest champion in the quarterfinal round November 19. Defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Metro State (Co.) is the top seed in the Midwest.

Far West Regional tickets are on sale at the SPU Athletics Office (206/281-2085) in the pavilion. Prices are $7 for general admission, and $3 for students and youth.

For further information, please contact the CSUDH Sports Information Office at (310) 243-3764.