LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team couldn't dig itself out of an early deficit Sunday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match against conference-leading Sonoma State.
The Golden Eagles surrendered a pair of early goals and a late penalty-kick goal and fell to the Seawolves, 3-1, Sunday at University Stadium. Cal State LA (5-3, 2-2 CCAA) dropped its second straight game after being ranked in the national top-10 for the first time since 2014. Sonoma State (10-2, 6-0 CCAA) continues to lead the conference.
Jazmin Smith got the Golden Eagles' lone goal in the 62nd minute when she knocked in a rebound of a shot from
Irma Pinzon. Cal State LA had a pair of strong chances to equalize, but sent shots high and Sonoma State put the game out of reach with a goal in the 85th minute.
Sonoma State capitalized on a pair of Cal State LA defensive miscues to take a 2-0 lead in the first 22 minutes. Kamryn Hiaber made a steal deep in Cal State LA territory and slid the ball to an onrushing Alexis Espitia, who got behind the defense and lofted a shot into the net for her seventh goal of the season.
Alyssa Silva made it 2-0 less than eight minutes later when she pounced on a turnover in the box and quickly shot to the far post for her fourth goal of the season.
Cal State LA began to generate some chances in the second half and finally got on the board in the 62nd minute.
Paulina Chaidez made a nice pass to Pinzon, whose shot was saved by a diving Sonoma State goalkeeper Ashley Morton. Smith, though, got to the rebound and knocked it into the goal for her first career goal for Cal State LA.
Chaidez had a good opportunity in the 64th minute to tie it, but her shot went high and
Danya Gutierrez also had a good look in the 72nd minute, but her shot also went high.
Julia Pritchard finished the scoring in the 85th minute with a successful penalty kick.
Chaidez had a match-high four shots for the Golden Eagles.
Sonoma State had a 13-11 advantage in shots for the game and both teams had three corner kicks.
Amanda Leal made four saves for the Golden Eagles.
