BOX SCORE:  Cal State East Bay 1, Sonoma State 0

ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  Sonoma State's scoring drought continued on Friday afternoon as Cal State East Bay got a late goal from Michelle Garcia to upend the Seawolves, 1-0 at Seawolf Field in Rohnert Park.  Sonoma falls to 1-2-1, 0-2-1 CCAA while the Pioneers earn their first conference victory of the season, improving to 3-2-1, 1-2-0 CCAA.

Held scoreless in their previous two games, the Seawolves out shot the Pioneers, 16-13, but it seemed every shot came at a distance and went to the side or was scooped up by CSUEB's goalkeeper, Donna Williams.  Williams was credited with six saves and she got a little help from a goalkeeper's best friend, the crossbar, as shots by Taylor Colacion and Holly Weaver clanked iron instead of swishing net. 

Goalkeeper Courtney Grixti and the rest of the Sewaolves' back line did a nice job of neutralizing the Pioneers' attack, especially in the early going, holding East Bay to just three first half shots.  The back breaker came in the 81st minute when Jessica Hamister, fresh off the bench, crossed a ball from the left side to Garcia, who's loft from outside the box got over Grixti and into the net.

Fouls were nearly even, 11-10 in Sonoma's favor, and corner kicks were even at three.  Two yellows were shown to the Seawolves, both coming late in the game.

The Seawolves will look to turn things around on Sunday when they host South Division heavyweight UC San Diego.  The game will mark the end of a season-opening five game home stand.

GAME NOTES:  Despite the loss, the Seawolves still lead the all-time series against the Pioneers, 18-7-1...Cal State East Bay was a former NCAC rival of Sonoma State before dropping down to the NCAA Division III level; they have been in the CCAA since 2009...the loss snapped a 17-game winning streak for the Seawolves against the Pioneers dating back to 1990, in which they outscored East Bay 81-3.



More to come!