Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Sonoma State University Athletics

Taylor Varnadore

Men's Soccer

Seawolves Clinch CCAA Tournament Berth, Win 3-1

Taylor Varnadore scored two first half goals to lead the Seawolves.
Box Score: Sonoma State 3, Cal State Monterey Bay 1

SEASIDE, Calif- Taylor Varnadore scored two first half goals and Justin Ferreira netted a score with just one second remaining in the contest, giving Sonoma State the 3-1 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday at the Otter Soccer Complex. The win solidified a second place finish in the CCAA North Division standings and a berth into the conference tournament in Turlock next weekend.

The Seawolves will enter next weekend's CCAA Championship Tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face top-seeded Cal State San Bernardino in the opening round on Friday. Kickoff from Warrior Stadium is set for 11 a.m. No. 2 Chico State will face No. 4 Cal State Dominguez Hills following the match between the Seawolves and Coyotes at 1:30 p.m. The winner of both matches will square off in the championship on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Varnadore got the scoring started for the Seawolves at 13:07 when he collected a rebound and finished just inside the left post. Frank Becerril attempted a shot just seconds before, but a defensive save ricochet to Varnadore, who gave the Seawolves a 1-0 lead. He then added to the Sonoma State lead with his second goal in the match, and ninth this season, when he took a cross from Brandon Dela Cruz and netted it beyond the reach of CSUMB goalkeeper Sam Campanelli to go up 2-0.

The Otters got one back just before halftime when Grant Robson headed a cross by Beau Villanueva past SSU netminder Juan Sosa. It was just the third attempted shot by Cal State Monterey Bay in the half, as they fired just four shots in the contest.

Outshooting CSUMB 22-4 with just seconds remaining in the match, Ferreira took a pass from Cam Vickers and scored his first collegiate goal at 89:59 to put the nail in the coffin, so to speak, with a 3-1 victory on the 23rd shot of the afternoon.

Sonoma State will make its seventh consecutive appearance in the CCAA Championship Tournament and 10th appearance in the last 11 seasons. Heading into play this weekend, the Seawolves were tied for fourth in the official NCAA Division II West Region poll. The top four teams in the final official poll due out after the conference tournament will qualify for NCAA postseason play.