Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team made sure its 2009 season opener was a successful one.

 

The Golden Eagles had four players score goals and played sturdy defense in a 4-0 win over NCAA Division II West Region opponent Central Washington Thursday night at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A. (1-0) held a 1-0 lead at halftime and then took command with a three-goal outburst in the second half.

 

Liz Franco had a goal and two assists, while Amanda Matthews and Alex Conley had a goal and an assist. Ann Marie Tangorra had the other goal for the Golden Eagles.

 

Central Washington, which finished last season with a 10-7-3 overall record and is picked to finish third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, had some good scoring chances early, but came up empty. Amber Easterbrook had seven saves for the Wildcats (0-1), including a pair of brilliant saves of point-blank attempts by Conley and Tangorra in the second half.

 

Jessie Walworth made four saves in goal for the Golden Eagles in her first career start at Cal State L.A. She is a junior transfer from Paradise Valley Community College.

 

Central Washington had a couple good scoring chances in the opening minutes, but couldn't finish its opportunities. Cal State L.A. countered with some strong pressure of its own and got the game's first goal in the 15^th minute. Conley got the ball to Franco, who sent a pass to Matthews, who knocked it past Easterbrook from point-blank range.

 

That was the only scoring in the first half, but Cal State L.A. scored twice in a 72-second span early in the second half to take control of the contest. Franco drilled a shot from the left side of the box after receiving a nice pass from Gabbi Segall. She had flicked a pass from Matthews to set up Franco just 2:02 into the second half.

 

The Golden Eagles made it 3-0 in the 49^th minute when Conley took a pass from Franco and dribbled through several Central Washington defenders before finally knocking a perfectly-placed shot into the left corner of the net.

 

Tangorra, who had a pair of nice scoring chances in the first half, completed the scoring in the 75^th minute. She received a perfect pass from Jasmin Stuemper and tucked a shot into the right corner of the net. Erica Thomas also had an assist on the goal.

 

Cal State L.A. had a 17-8 edge in shots, including an 8-3 advantage in the second half.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Wednesday with a game against another Division II West Region opponent, Hawaii-Hilo.