CARSON, Calif-  For the first time since 2002, the Sonoma State men's soccer team is heading to the NCAA Quarterfinals.  The Seawolves beat Cal State Dominguez Hills on penalty kicks, thanks to a pair of Brook Johnson saves, to take the NCAA Far West Region Championship on Sunday afternoon in Carson.  The result will go down as a 1-1 tie, but the Seawolves advanced by way of a 4-2 advantage in the shootout.  The Seawolves (19-3-2) will face Midwestern State (18-3-0) next weekend, presumably in Wichita Falls, Texas.

If Midwestern State sounds familiar to SSU fans, that's because the Seawolves beat the Mustangs in the 2002 NCAA Quarterfinal game.  The winner of the NCAA Quarterfinal game has a spot in the Final Four.

Back to Sunday's action.  The Seawolves and Toros were locked in another classic, meeting at Toro Stadium with a title on the line for the second time in seven days.  Last Sunday, CSUDH beat SSU 1-0 for the CCAA Championship.  It was just the second shutout of the year for the Seawolf offense and SSU's Ross Middlemiss made sure it wouldn't happen again.

Middlemiss scored the game's first goal in the 12th minute when he gathered a rebound and blasted it past the goalkeeper.  For his play over the weekend, Middlemiss was named the regional's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

The Toros drew even in the 39th minute when Mario Guerrero scored off a Sammy Rivas assist. 

The score would remain 1-1 through regulation and two ten-minute overtime periods to set up an exciting PK shootout. 

SSU led off with Middlemiss, who converted his chance to put SSU ahead 1-0.  The Toros then missed their next shot, thanks to a brilliant save by Brook Johnson, to put them in a precarious situation.  After Eric Larson netted his opportunity to make it 2-0, the Toros again were denied by SSU's All-Region goalkeeper.  Down 2-0, the Toros were definitely in trouble. 

The Seawolves led 3-2 and with Mark Wiedeman ready to fire, they needed just one more conversion to get the win.  Wiedeman's shot was true and the Seawolves celebrated on the Toros' home field.  It was SSU's first win over CSUDH in Carson since the 2002 Far West Region championship. 

Sunday's affair was as close as the talent level between the two teams.  The shots were even at 17, the fouls were even at 20, and CSUDH had a 4-3 edge in corners.

The Seawolves dedicated the win, and their entire post-season run, to last year's senior class (Brett Cook, Jaime Rivera, Clark Rupp, and Mason Hill-Harrill), who were denied a berth in the NCAA Tournament in '06.

More information regarding SSU's NCAA Quarterfinal match with Midwestern State will be forthcoming.

2007 NCAA Far West Region All-Tournament Team
GCU - Bosko Jovicevic
SU - John Fishbaugher
CSUDH - Derby Carrillo, Kevin Gallaugher, Mario Guerrero, Hiram Rangel
SSU - Steven Browne, Brook Johnson, Ross Middlemiss, Scott Preckwinkle, Mark Wiedeman

Most Outstanding Defensive Player:  Brook Johnson (SSU)
Most Outstanding Offensive Player:  Ross Middlemiss (SSU)

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