Box Score TURLOCK -- Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead against top-seed Cal State Stanislaus on Friday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association semi-final, but that made the ending even more heartbreaking.
The Golden Eagles kept their lead into the second half, but the Warriors struck for a pair of goals to tie it and then won the game, 3-2, with a goal in the second minute of overtime. Cal State L.A. (10-6-3) lost for only the second time in its last 11 games with both defeats coming in overtime.
The Golden Eagles were making their fourth appearance in the CCAA Championship Tournament in the past five years and seeking their second conference title.
Cal State L.A. entered the tournament ranked fifth in the NCAA West Region, while Cal State Stanislaus (17-0-2) was ranked fifth in the nation and No. 1 in the West Region. The Golden Eagles now must wait for the annoucement of the NCAA Championships field on Monday at 4:30 p.m. to see if they will qualify for the NCAA playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
The start of Friday's game couldn't have gone any better for the Golden Eagles. Cal State L.A. scored on its first shot on goal when
Amalia Arvidsson curved in a shot in the 16th minute for her team-leading 10th goal of the season. The Golden Eagles stretched their lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute when
Andrea Lammers notched her ninth goal of the season with an assist from
Megan Ollar. The play started with Ollar passing over the defense to Lammers, who dribbled to the middle and knocked in a shot over the keeper.
Although Cal State Stanislaus had a shot advantage in the opening half, the Golden Eagles kept the Warriors off the board into halftime.
The second half, though, was a different story. The Warriors cut the lead in half with a goal in the 51st minute from Apryl Whitney.
The Warriors then tied it with a free kick in the 65th minute from Katelyn Nebesnicky, who collected her eighth goal of the season.
Cal State Stanislaus then got the game-winner in the 92nd minute when Sabrina Williamson got her sixth goal of the season. Maryssa McDuffy sent in a cross over the defense to Williamson, who finished from close range to give the hosts the victory.
Cal State Stanislaus had an 18-5 advantage in shots, although the margin was only 6-3 in shots on goal.
Yi Du made three saves in goal for the Golden Eagles. Cal State Stanislaus will face Sonoma State, which beat Cal State San Bernardino, 2-1, in overtime, for the conference title on Sunday.