Lopez Bends it Like Beckham as No. 5-Ranked CSUDH Takes 1-0 Win at Western Washington to Kick Off 2006 Men's Soccer Season
August 27, 2006

Complete Box Score

Bellingham, WA -- Senior Wilmer Lopez (Inglewood, CA/Inglewood HS) curled a free kick around a seven-man Western Washington wall into the bottom left corner from 20 yards away at the 9:20 mark as the 5th-ranked and defending Far West Region Champion Toros blanked WWU 1-0 in CSUDH's season opener on Orca Field on the Whatcom Community College campus.

In a physical game that saw seven cautions and each side whistled for 26 fouls apiece, it was the Toros who capitalized on WWU's mistakes as Lopez's free kick came after successive WWU fouls. That would prove the difference as the Toros' defense, which returned just one starter from the 2005 squad, proved stingy, not allowing a single shot on goal.

WWU's best chance came in the 67th minute as Matt Pele dribbled to the end line and sent a ball into the goalmouth, but Gus Zadra’s lunging effort went just wide of the left post.

The Toros out-shot the hosts 12-8, including 8-5 in the second half, and tallied a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks in the win. CSUDH senior Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) played all 90 minutes without facing a shot on goal, while WWU netminder Zach King had one save in the loss.

CSUDH continues its northwest swing on Tuesday against No. 9-ranked Seattle Pacific University, just 9 1/2 months after the Toros bested the Falcons 2-1 in overtime for the 2005 Far West Region title.

Cal State Dominguez Hills  1 0 --- 1 
Western Washington         0 0 --- 0

SCORING SUMMARY:
CSUDH - Lopez (unassisted), 9:20

Shots: Western Washington 8, Cal State Dominguez Hills 12

Corner kicks: Western Washington 1, Cal State Dominguez Hills 6

Fouls: Western Washington 26, Cal State Dominguez Hills 26

Saves: Western Washington 1 (King 1), Cal State Dominguez Hills 0 (Polak 0)

Date: 8/27/06 Attendance: 200