Postmatch Interviews

TURLOCK -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team has marched its way into the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship game after a thrilling performance in a penalty kick shootout against No. 2 seed Sonoma State.

The Golden Eagles battled the Seawolves to a 0-0 draw through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods before goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado made three saves in the shootout to allow the Golden Eagles to advance, 3-2. Tatiana Zuvic and Danielle Telles made their shootout tries before Micaela Estrada made a successful kick to end the match and send the Golden Eagles to their second championship game appearance in three years and their fifth title appearance overall. Cal State LA won tournament titles in 2009 and 2014.

Cal State LA (7-8-4) entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and beat No. 3 seed Cal State San Bernardino on Tuesday before getting past Sonoma State on Friday.

The Golden Eagles will play the winner of the UC San Diego-Stanislaus State matchup for the title on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Maldonado had an outstanding match even before the penalty kick shootout. She made five saves, including four in the second half. Her best stop came early in the second half after Madison Minton got the rebound of her initial shot that hit the crossbar. Minton fired another shot at the goal, but Maldonado made a diving stop to keep the game scoreless.

Sonoma State had an 18-5 advantage in shots, but only five of those shots got through to Maldonado. Cal State LA blocked several shots and most of the attempts were from distance. Both teams had five corner kicks.

Zarette Munoz-Aguilar had two of the Golden Eagles' five shots, while Marie Lou Larose, Zuvic and Anahie Duran also had attempts.

Sonoma State had the best chance of the first half, but Courtney Sheda hit the crossbar with a header in the 43rd minute.

Cal State LA almost scored early in the second half after a corner kick. Sonoma State headed the ball first, but Zuvic then got an attempt that was cleared away at the last instant by the Seawolves.

The game featured a good amount of back-and-forth and both teams were exhausted by overtime periods. Arredondo almost led the Golden Eagles to a dramatic final-minute victory with a strong run down the right side in the 109th minute before sending a pass that Larose, who was able to send a strong shot toward the goal, but Allison Hadidan made the save.

That set the stage for the shootout with Sonoma State going first. Maldonado set the tone by making a a big save on Sonoma State's first attempt. The Seawolves scored on their second attempt by Minton, but Zuvic tied things up for the Golden Eagles with a make. After Maldonado made a spectacular save on Sonoma State's third save, Telles put the Golden Eagles ahead, 2-1. Both teams missed on their fourth attempts and, after Hadidian was successful on Sonoma State's fifth attempt to tie it, Estrada calmly drilled the game-winner to send the Golden Eagles to the next round.