Rocky second half dooms Pioneers in 3-1 loss to Toros
- October 10, 2010
CARSON, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team allowed a pair of second-half goals to Cal State Dominguez Hills in a 3-1 loss after playing to a 1-1 draw through the first 45 minutes. The Pioneers (5-6-2, 3-6-1 CCAA) held the Toros to one goal through 66 minutes of play before giving up the game winner and an insurance goal in the final 25 minutes of play.
"It’s disappointing to not play well enough to earn a better result today," CSUEB Head Coach Amy Gerace said. "We can’t just show up and try to survive 90 minutes. We need to do a better job of playing as a team on both sides of the ball."
The Pioneers opened scoring in the 25th minute, as first-half sub Jessica Hamister came on to put East Bay up 1-0. After Breanna Baker’s shot was deflected, Hamister collected the ball and put it away on the right side to beat CSUDH keeper Alyssa Congdon and give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
"I am pleased with the way some players came in off the bench to give us a spark," Gerace said. "Jessica did a great job coming into the game and making an immediate impact."
Just over a minute later, the Toros responded to even the game at a goal apiece. Jessica Murphy put her shot past East Bay keeper Nina Cefalo into the upper left corner to tie the game 1-1.
Though the teams traded shots over the final 20 minutes of the first half, neither could find the back of the net. The Pioneers finished the half with three shots, forcing Congdon to make one save. On the other end, Cefalo needed three saves to maintain the tie, while Murphy’s seven shots paced the active Toros offense in the first frame.
Cal State Dominguez Hills came out of the half looking to score, finishing the second frame with another 10 shots. After opening the second frame with five unanswered shots, the Toros broke open the game with a second goal from Murphy in the 67th minute.
Leading 2-1, the Toros continued to press, finding the back of the net again in the 74th minute. After stringing three passes together, CSUDH found Natalee Simon, whose lobbed shot sailed over the defense and into the net to give the Toros an insurance goal and a 3-1 lead.
Cal State East Bay managed just one shot in the second frame, as Zuly Diaz forced a Congdon save in the 87th minute. The Pioneers finished the match with four shot from four different sources, while forcing two saves from Congdon in her second victory over East Bay this season. The Toros posted 16 shots, paced by Murphy’s seven, and forced Cefalo to make six saves in the loss.
The Pioneers return home next weekend to meet Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State. Cal State East Bay is set to take on the Warriors at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Pioneer Stadium.