Complete Box Score
CARSON, Calif. -- Cal State L.A.'s Morten Marthinsen and Jaime Gomez each scored first half goals to lead the Golden Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific in the opening round of the 2006 NCAA Championship Tournament, held on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Golden Eagles improve to 13-8-1 and advance to Saturday's second round of the Tournament against Seattle University who beat top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-1 in overtime.
Seattle Pacific's David Reuhl gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead just 1:38 into the game, using a deflection to find the back of the net from 24 yards out. CSULA had a chance to equalize just minutes later, but AJ Matthews sailed his sitter high, keeping the Falcons on top.
At 32:26, CSULA‚s Marthinsen found himself alone to the left of SPU goalie Kellen Rosten, and the 1st-team All-CCAA forward wasted no time in seizing the opportunity by blasting his shot off Rosten‚s hands and into the net for the tie.
The Golden Eagles‚ Jaime Gomez put CSULA ahead for good 11 minutes later as he took a loose ball in front of SPU‚s goal, and sent his half-volley by Rosten for what would prove to be the game-winner.
SPU had a golden change to equalize late but Drew Macha‚s shot from 8 yards away was saved by leaping midfielder Kyle Hewitt, preserving the CSULA win.
CSULA's Patrick Fry tallied four saves in the win, while SPU keeper Kellen Rosten saved three shots in the loss.
With the win, CSULA‚s first in the NCAA since 1992, the Golden Eagles advance to the second round of the NCAA Championships where they await the winner of the Cal State Dominguez Hills-Seattle match. The Far West Regional Championship match will be played on Saturday on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7 p.m.
SPU head coach Cliff McCrath:
“They're an excellent team. They've got quick, strong players, and they came back and that flurry they put on for about 10 minutes was as good as I've seen. We had our chances; we thought that last shot was in, but that's the game of soccer.”
CSULA head coach Chris Chamides:
“I think we just needed to get rid of some nerves at the start. We gave up something early, but found a way to keep fighting and let opportunities come our way and we took advantage of it. We don't have a preference as to who we play. We haven't seen Seattle yet, so this would be the first time we'll watch them play. Obviously, Dominguez and Cal State L.A. are like cousins, we know each other quite well. We welcome the opportunity to play whomever, and we're just proud to be in the Sweet 16. I told my team I was proud of them and they battled hard to make a little bit of a comeback and see the game through in the second half. They showed a lot of character.”
