ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team battled to qualify for the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament and the Golden Eagles put forth a determined effort in a tough overtime loss to host Sonoma State.
The No. 6 seed Golden Eagles gave the No. 3 Seawolves all they could handle on Tuesday before Sonoma State broke though in the final minute of overtime to pull out a 1-0 victory. Cal State LA (10-6-2) exits the single-elimination tournament, while Sonoma State (11-3-3) advances to the semi-finals at UC San Diego on Friday.
The game-winner came in the final minute of the first overtime when Julia Pritchard drove down the right side and sent in a pass to Bella Amyx, who flicked the ball behind her back leg and in. Cal State LA was a player short for most of the overtime period after a second yellow card just 16 seconds into the OT.
This was the third straight year Cal State LA and Sonoma State have met in the conference tournament and the fourth time in five years. Cal State LA posted a 3-0 victory in the semi-finals in 2014 and advanced on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in the 2016 semi-finals. Sonoma State beat the Golden Eagles, 2-0, last year in the semi-finals and prevailed for a second straight year on Tuesday.
Cal State LA goalkeeper
Adriana Maldonado was busy on Tuesday and had a career-high 18 saves. She made seven saves in the first half, eight in the second and three in overtime. Sonoma State goalkeeper Kristen Spear wasn't quite as busy, but still had to make seven saves to keep the Golden Eagles off the board.
Sonoma State had a 34-10 advantage in shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.
Tatiana Zuvic had four shots for the Golden Eagles, while
Kimberly Surio had two shots.
Kimberly Mendez,
Meranda Salazar,
Irma Pinzon and
Madison Mader had one shot each.
Cal State LA will now have to wait for the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field next Monday. A final West Region poll will be released on Wednesday, but will not include Tuesday's result.