Complete Box Score
POMONA – Cal Poly Pomona's women's soccer team didn't just have to work overtime to earn a 1-1 tie with California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division rival Cal State L.A.
The Broncos had to do it for most of the game while being shorthanded.
Despite having to play a player short due to a red card in the 30th minute and then losing one of their top scorers to an injury, Cal Poly Pomona secured a 1-1 tie against Cal State L.A. Sunday at Kellogg Field.
The Broncos (4-2-2, 2-1-2) had a tie for the second straight game, while Cal State L.A. (6-1-1, 4-0-1) remained unbeaten after five conference matches. With UCSD women losing, CSULA is now atop the division race with the one point earned with the tie.
The Broncos had to work extremely hard to earn the tie. First, the Broncos had to do without one of the team's top defenders, Stephanie Mrazik, after she was issued a red card for taking down a Cal State L.A. in the penalty box in the 30th minute. Amber De Seriere knocked in the penalty kick with a beautiful shot just inside the right post and just past the diving attempt of Cal Poly Pomona goalie Amanda Cunningham to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Just 12 seconds later, the Broncos tied the score, but it came at a heavy price. Mary Carroll was leveled in a collision with Cal State L.A. goalkeeper Reyna Coca after she chased down a pass from Andrea Salerno. Carroll was able to head the ball toward the net just before the collision, which left Carroll needing stitches and having to miss the rest of the game.
Coca also left the game at halftime for the Golden Eagles.
Despite playing one player short after the Mrazik red card, the Broncos battled the Golden Eagles on even terms for the remainder of the contest. Suarez made a sensational diving save of a shot by Cal Poly Pomona's Pamela Leyva that seemed destined to find the corner of the net late in regulation.
Cal State L.A. also had some quality chances to win the game, only to see Cunningham come up big for the Broncos. Khadijah Greenwood and Jennifer Schafter had three shots on goal each, only to see Cunningham turn them all aside.
Coca and Suarez made two saves each for the Golden Eagles, while Cunningham made eight saves for the Broncos.
Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 15-9 edge in shots and had six corner kicks to four for the Broncos.
Cal State L.A. returns home to host Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday, with the start scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Cal Poly Pomona will return to action next Friday night with a home match against Cal State Monterey Bay.
