CARSON, Calif-  And just like that, Sonoma State's fairy tale season is over.  Five days after winning the CCAA Championship on penalty kicks, the Seawolves were on the other end, falling to Cal State L.A. on penalty kicks, 5-4 at the NCAA West Regional in Carson.  The result ends the sixth-ranked Seawolves' season at 18-2-4.  Cal State L.A. advances to meet Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

In one of the more remarkable games in Sonoma State soccer history, the Seawolves and Golden Eagles staged a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes of action, though that doesn't even begin to tell the story.

Trying to beat the Golden Eagles for the third time this season, the Seawolves were subdued by an impressive CSULA defense early on.  Cal State L.A. outshot the Seawolves 10-3 in the first half and though the margin would be closer in the second (8-6), neither team was able to find net. 

At the 88:24 mark of the game, Cal State L.A. struck.  Awarded a penalty kick, Rufino Franco converted to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead with just 96 seconds left in the game. Game over, right?

The Seawolves hadn't scored in nearly 89 minutes, so the odds had to have been stacked pretty high against them.  Sure enough, however, freshman Cam Vickers came through just 24 seconds later, scoring off a double assist by Ross Middlemiss and Eric Lafon."

"We showed a lot of grit and character to come back after the penalty with less than two minutes left," said head coach Marcus Ziemer, "Lafon said 'put me back in coach' in a voice that sounded like he was going to make something happen, so I quickly subbed him in and thirty seconds later he sent in a free kick which Ross headed to Cam who hit a wicked side volley for the goal. If there had been more time, we could have scored again because the momentum clearly shifted.  CSULA did a good job regrouping for overtime. We came out on fire and had an early chance, but their keeper made a good save from a shot from vickers and then it was back and forth after that. "

Neither team could score in overtime, setting up another winner-take-all penalty kick shootout.  Middlemiss was up first for the Seawolves, but the region's best player missed his attempt, putting the Seawolves in a hole they couldn't escape.  Cal State L.A. nailed five consecutive penalty kicks to end it and set up a date with the Toros in round two.

Said Ziemer, "Considering how banged up we were at the end of the season, it is remarkable that we won the conference and ended the season without a loss in our last 11 games.  We lost Casey Dayton, Jeff Loesche, and Stuart Gallant to knee injuries, Jack Jones and Lafon for the conference tournament and Mark Wiedeman and Andrew Bailey were hobbled for the latter part."

For the Seawolves and their nine seniors, the loss has to be devastating.  They will, however, be able to look back on a season that saw them capture the CCAA Championship, rank as high as No. 2 in the country, and win 18 games. 

"It was very emotional after the game and it is hard to believe that Bailey, Nathan Medina, Doug Carr, Scott Preckwinkle, Lafon, Wiedeman, Mike Duncan, Jones and Middlemiss put the SSU jersey on for the last time," remarked Ziemer, "They will be missed..they've given their heart and soul to this program! These guys and their families will be missed but not forgotten!"

"We have had great teams with a lot of talent the last couple of years but it is so difficult to get out of our region, let alone to the final four. It really makes me realize how special that 2002 season was!," said Ziemer.

Ziemer concluded by saying, "Right now everyone is pretty devastated, but in a few weeks we will look back and realize what a great season it was. We ended up 18-2-4 and as anybody who saw us play can tell you, we did it with style. We broke several school records and played entertaining, attractive football.  It has always been a goal of mine to play great soccer.  I have to watch every game so I want to enjoy it!"

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