Pioneers secure undefeated weekend with 3-2 overtime victory over Cal State San Bernardino
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Sophomore Kara Yamamoto scored the game winner and added an assist in the Pioneers' overtime win.
- October 3, 2010
HAYWARD, Calif. - On the strength of a goal from sophomore Kara Yamamoto in the second overtime, the Cal State East Bay women's soccer team posted its third conference win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday. The Pioneers (5-4-2, 3-4-1 CCAA) finished the weekend with an undefeated record for the week after playing to a scoreless draw with Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.
"I’m happy our players weren’t content with a tie," CSUEB Head Coach Amy Gerace said. "It shows a lot of character to persevere in the final minutes of overtime and score a goal."
Two second-half Cal State San Bernardino goals, including the game-tying goal in the 87th minute, sent the two teams into overtime locked in a 2-2 draw. After eighteen minutes had passed in the overtime, the Pioneers looked destined for their second straight tie before Yamamoto stepped up in a big way.
After winning a ball in the midfield, Yamamoto played it to sophomore Zuly Diaz on the right wing where she put a cross into the box that deflected off a defender and found Yamamoto again. The Honolulu native finished with a low shot into the right corner to beat Coyote keeper Tiffany Mallick and give the Pioneers the dramatic win. The goal capped a banner day for Yamamoto who played every minute for East Bay and added an assist to finish with three points.
The Pioneers led throughout most of the match after opening scoring in the 31st minute. East Bay won a corner on the left side which Yamamoto put into the box where senior Jasmine Stephens put a head on it before senior Michelle Garcia’s header found the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Cal State East Bay finished the first frame with the one-goal advantage, taking seven shots and forcing five saves from Mallick. The Coyotes posted five shots in the first half, with CSUEB keeper Nina Cefalo making three stops to hold San Bernardino scoreless in the opening 45 minutes.
The Pioneers wasted no time in the second half, scoring a goal in the 47th minute to take a 2-0 lead. The goal came after a Diaz shot was turned away by Mallick and the rebound found senior Jennifer Lu, who finished on the ground from eight yards out to give East Bay a two-goal advantage.
The Coyotes finally answered in the 58th minute, scoring on a header from Casey Hirsch to cut the Pioneer lead to 2-1.
Cal State East Bay had its best chance to regain a two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute when freshman defender Gail Bassett nearly put away a header. As the half continued on, San Bernardino began to build momentum, putting together three shots leading up to the tying goal by Jani Carmona on a corner kick from Kelsey Gudgeon in the 87th minute.
"Gail Bassett continues to step up and is showing a lot of maturity as a freshman," Gerace said. "She had another consistent game in the back. It’s also nice to see midfielders come up with goals for us in the flow of play."
The Pioneers finished the match with 18 shots, led by Diaz’ four shots, including three on goal. Cefalo made eight saves to pick up her first win of the season, while Mallick made eight stops of her own for the Coyotes in the loss. San Bernardino threw 19 shots at Cefalo and was paced by Jasmine Bell’s four strikes.
Cal State East Bay returns to action next weekend, as it hits the road again to kick off the second half of the CCAA season with a trip to Southern California to meet Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Pioneers and Golden Eagles are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Jesse Owens Stadium on Oct. 8.