ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  In a game that head coach Luke Oberkirch called a defining moment for his squad, Sonoma State battled from adversity to claim a 1-0 win over Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday afternoon in Rohnert Park.  The Seawolves, tied for first with Chico State entering play on Sunday, improve to 8-3-0, 6-1-0 with their fifth win in a row.  The Warriors fall to 3-5-1, 1-5-1 CCAA.

The Seawolves got the win despite playing with just 10 players for the final 66 minutes after a controversial red card sent Lindsay Catton off midway through the first half.  In spite of the disadvantage, the Seawolves controlled the tempo and outshot the Warriors 15-8 overall and 11-4 in the second half.

"Going down a player so early and down a starter with an injury (Courtney Oates), this was a huge victory for us," commented SSU head coach Luke Oberkirch.  "Jessica (Eshia) stepped right off the bench and got us a goal right when we needed it."

The Sonoma State goal came in the 67th minute when Khyra Buchanan and Tracy Webster hooked up to feed Jessica Eshia in front of the net.  Eshia booted it past Warrior goalkeeper Jessica Sitarz for the game-winner.  It was the first touch of the game for Eshia, who had entered just a minute earlier.

Carissa Amiral was golden for the Seawolves in recording her fourth shutout of the year.  The Santa Rosa native has not allowed a goal in over 455 minutes of action this season.  On Sunday she made six saves, including several acrobatic ones, to preserve the shutout.

The Seawolves return to action next weekend when they hit the road to take on South Division powers UC San Diego and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

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