Box Score
CARSON -- First, Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team enjoyed the excitement of reaching the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament for the first time in the program's history.
Now the Golden Eagles will get to sample their first-ever appearance in a championship game.
Cal State L.A. scored just 1:09 into the game and went on to dethrone two-time defending CCAA champion UC San Diego, 2-1, Friday at Cal State Dominguez Hills in a CCAA semi-final matchup. The Golden Eagles will now play for the conference championship on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. between the winner of the Chico State-Cal State Dominguez Hills game.
The winner of Sunday's game will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Golden Eagles entered play this week - which also includes a win over Cal State San Bernardino on Monday - ranked seventh in the region. The top six advance. UC San Diego entered the week ranked third in the region.
Cal State L.A. (13-5-1) won its sixth straight contest and the Golden Eagles did it Friday with a sensational performance by all 17 players who saw action. The shots were even at 12-12, but Cal State L.A., after weathing some extensive UC San Diego pressure early in the second half, controlled play for long stretches before finally taking a 2-0 lead in the 80th minute. UC San Diego broke Cal State L.A's bid for a shutout in the final minute of play.
While Cal State L.A.. was making its first appearance in the conference tourney, UC San Diego has been a regular since joining the CCAA. The Tritons have won six conference titles - including the last two - and carried a 12-1 overall tournament record into Friday's contest.
The Golden Eagles certainly didn't show any nerves at the start. Just more than a minute into play, Dana Menard took a beautiful centering pass from Khadijah Greenwood and fired a shot into the right corner of the net to give Cal State L.A. a quick 1-0 lead. It was Menard's fifth goal of the season. Greenwood made a long run down the left sideline before hitting Menard right in the middle of the box with a perfect pass.
That was the only goal of the first half, although UC San Diego's Caitlin Ryan headed a cross just over the Cal State L.A. crossbar in the 37th minute.
Cal State L.A. goalie Reyna Coca made a solid save on a chance by UC San Diego's Alexia Zatarain early in the second half and the Tritons had a back-to-back corner kicks that went for naught in the 60th minute.
The Golden Eagles, who got some outstanding minutes from reserves Ana Valverde, Jasmine Wallace, Christine Buenrostro, Kastidi Robles, Liz Franco and Erica Thomas, began to take control of the game after the Triton flurry.
Wallace had a chance blocked, Jennifer Schafer had a hard shot sail high and Menard had a strong shot saved by UC San Diego goalie Jessica McGovern.
Franco had an outstanding opportunity in the 74th minute when she sent a shot toward the left goalpost. A diving McGovern, though, was just able to deflect it wide.
Finally, the Golden Eagles converted to take a 2-0 lead. Amber de Seriere made a beautiful run down the middle of the field and hit Greenwood right in stride in the box. With the goalkeeper out, Greenwood sent a shot just inside the right goalpost for her sixth goal of the year with just 10:39 remaining in the contest.
The Tritons got their only goal after a flurry in the box in the final minute of play. A shot Chelsey Campbell bounded off a Cal State L.A. defender and into the goal.
The Golden Eagles, though, successfully ran off the final 39 seconds without incident. The Golden Eagle defenders were outstanding throughout the match with Christine Duff, Megan Stevenson, Karly Huerta and Schafer bottling up the UC San Diego forwards for much of the match. Midfielders Amanda Matthews, Sarah Le and de Seriere were also sensational and kept the Tritons from generating many offensive attacks. The Golden Eagle forwards, especially Greenwood and Menard, made run after run at the sturdy UC San Diego defense, which had allowed only six goals all season coming into the contest.
The Golden Eagles advanced even with a first-half injury to first-team All-CCAA senior Erika Prado, who was off to a strong start in the game before having to leave in the 23rd minute.
Coca made three saves in goal for the Golden Eagles, who were whistled for 20 fouls to just six for the Tritons. McGovern made four saves for the Tritons, all in the second half.
