ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Sixteenth-ranked Sonoma State established a new school record on Friday afternoon with their 11th consecutive victory, a 2-1 defeat of Cal State Stanislaus, in rainy Turlock. The Seawolves improve to 12-2-1 overall and stay perfect in CCAA play at 10-0-0. The Warriors drop to 3-9-3, 2-6-2 CCAA.
The win gives SSU 30 points in conference play and a commanding lead in the CCAA North Division. In fact, the Seawolves can clinch their fourth consecutive North Division crown if Chico State doesn't win tonight against Humboldt State, or if SSU gets a point (win or tie) in Sunday's game at Chico.
The 11-game winning streak surpasses the ten-game stretch SSU had at the beginning of the 2002 season. At 10-0-0 in CCAA play, the Seawolves also tie their best-ever conference start. The 1993 team also started 10-0-0 on their way to the Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship.
After a scoreless first half of play, Sonoma State got on the board in the 57th minute when
Nathan Medina scored his seventh goal of the season off assists by
Mike Travis and
Ross Middlemiss.
Travis had a hand in SSU's second goal as well, just four minutes later, when he fed Middlemiss for a goal of his own
. Eric Lafon was also credited with an assist as SSU extended the lead to 2-0. It was the eighth assist of the year for Lafon, the CCAA's leader.
That extra goal would be needed as the Warriors cut into the lead in the 70th minute on a Dennis Wolfe goal.
Said SSU head coach
Marcus Ziemer, "I thought we played well. Stanislaus was able to hold us out of the net in the first half by settling in, but we took advantage of a couple of our opportunities in the second half."
The Seawolves out shot the Warriors 20-12 and
Brook Johnson made five saves to earn his 11th victory of the season in goal.
Sonoma State is now 24-2-1 in their last 27 conference games dating back to the 2005 season.
The Seawolves look to clinch a playoff spot on Sunday when they face rival Chico State. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.
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