Box Score: Sonoma State 1, Cal State L.A. 1 (2 ot)
LOS ANGELES, Calif- Junior
Cam Vickers slammed a shot off the post and into the net with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation as Sonoma State forced a 1-1 tie with host Cal State L.A. on Friday evening at Jesse Owens Stadium in the Billie Jean King Sports Complex. The Seawolves went to 8-4-1 overall and 6-4-1 in conference play while the Golden Eagles moved to 7-4-1 and 6-4-1.
Sonoma State gained a point on North Division leader Chico State with the tie, thanks to a 3-2 victory by UC San Diego in overtime. However, the Seawolves fell to third place in the division as Cal State Stanislaus scored with one second remaining in double overtime to defeat Cal State East Bay. Chico State (21 points), Cal State Stanislaus (20) and Sonoma State (19) will head into Sunday's match looking to separate each other in the division race with five matches remaining this season.
"We battled hard and showed a lot of character to come back today,"head coach
Marcus Ziemer said. "We never stopped believing and Cam rescued us. Cal State L.A. is a tough place to play. The field is very narrow and the grass is short and super fast You have to give them credit because they came out ready to play and battled hard."
Cal State L.A. got off to a quick start, scoring just 3:20 into the match. CSULA's David Houser directed a corner kick into the penalty box where Brennen Brodersen headed the ball past goalkeeper
Juan Sosa for the early 1-0 lead.
The match then went back and forth as both teams recorded 15 shots apiece through the opening 90 minutes. It was the Seawolves' 15th shot that found the net, and in timely fashion. With the seconds ticking away, Vickers sent a prefectly-placed shot that bounced off the post and into the net, sending Sonoma State into a frenzied celebration.
It wasn't the first chance Vickers had to tie the match up, though. He took a free kick in the 58th minute, but CSULA netminder Thaddeus Caraway knocked the attempt up and over the cross bar. It was the shot at 89:43 that counted the most.
In the overtime periods, each team got off two shots in the first overtime and Sonoma State managed just one in the second overtime, which gave the Seawolves the 17-16 edge in shots on the evening.
Trevor Hurst led the offense with six shots, three of which came on goal.
Sosa made four saves for Sonoma State in the tie and his counterpart Caraway made six saves.
"We needed to be a little sharper to play ball possession soccer on the small field," Ziemer added, "but Cam's goal was incredible. We need to recover tomorrow and then get ready for Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday."
It will be a rematch of the CCAA title game and the first round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, as Cal State Dominguez Hills defeated Sonoma State in both last season. The Seawolves and Toros will face off at 2 p.m. at Toro Stadium.
