Toros Advance to NCAA Men's Soccer Final Four with 2-0 Victory over West Texas A&M
Scott White tallies game-winner in 78th minute to propel defending national champs to Final Four
November 18, 2001

CANYON, Texas - Cal State Dominguez Hills forward Scott White broke a scoreless tie in the 78th minute to propel the defending national champion Toros past host West Texas A&M 2-0 in quarterfinal action today in Canyon, Texas.

Both squads would battle through a physical defensive battle until the 78:47 minute mark when junior forward Scott White (Sonora HS) struck with the game-winner. Freshman midfielder Rick Cobb (Warren HS) played a ball over the WTAMU defense to the feet of White who beat a defender then the Buffaloes' goalkeeper Paul Hart with a shot to the near post.

White missed two earlier opportunities but made up for them with the game-winning shot.

"I wasn't going to miss that shot," said White. "I missed my first two shots earlier and I knew I had to put that one away."

The Toros weren't finished scoring 28 seconds later to give them a 2-0 lead. Freshman Kevin Sosa (Torrance HS) played a ball to senior Nathan Ballard (Sonora HS) who played a through ball from midfield to senior Sean Lockhart (Palm Springs HS). Lockhart ran onto the ball and fired his shot at 79:15 to the far post past the diving West Texas goalie to close out the scoring on the day.

CSUDH senior goalkeeper Luis Morales (Banning HS) recorded 10 saves in the net to record his fourth consecutive shutout and his 11th of the year.

CSUDH, who beat West Texas A&M by the same score in the NCAA quarterfinals last year in Carson, knew it was going to be a battle today but their championship experience paid off.

"The game was back and forth all day," said Cal State Dominguez Hills head coach Joe Flanagan. "We finally got one behind the defense and was able to put it away."

West Texas finished the game with with a 12-11 shot advantage, but couldn't finish their chances.

"It was a tough way to lose," said WTAMU coach Butch Lauffer. "We had lots of chances, but we have to do better at critical times. We kept thinking that the next chance would go, but we have to give them credit for not breaking."

Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 4 in the final regular season NSCAA polls, advance to their second consecutive Final Four berth at a site yet to be determined. CSUDH will face Dowling College (NY) in the semifinals who were 2-1 winners in three overtime periods today over Southern Connecticut State in the other quarterfinal.

CSUDH's moves on with a record of 19-2-1 while West Texas A&M falls to 15-4-1. The Toros will await the NCAA's call on Monday morning to find out if CSUDH will host the championships or have to travel.

"Last year we won on the road at the Final Four," states Flanagan. "This year, we would like to host."

Stay tuned.