BOX SCORE

TURLOCK, Calif- Michel Arroyo scored two goals in the first 11:35 of the match and Taylor Varnadore put another one in the net four minutes later, but it wouldn't be enough as host Cal State Stanislaus scored four unanswered goals in the second half alone to upset Sonoma State, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Warrior Stadium in Turlock. Despite the loss, the Seawolves remain atop the CCAA North Division standings at 5-3-0 (6-4-0 overall) by two points. The Warriors improve to 6-3-1 and 4-3-1 in conference play.

"This was a tough loss," SSU head coach Marcus Ziemer said. "Obviously, we need to be able to close out games when we are up 3-0 at halftime. "You have to give (Cal State Stanislaus) credit, though. They kept (attacking), making long throws, kicking the ball into the box and creating chances, creating havoc."

"It turned into a wild, out-of-control game that we couldn't regain control of," Ziemer added. "(Cal State Stanislaus) were very physical in the second half and the result didn't go our way. It was a tough one."

Arroyo ignited the Seawolf offense early, putting Sonoma State on the scoreboard just 3:41 into the match. He fired a shot from 20 yards out that slipped through Cal State Stanislaus goalkeeper Bill Hambelton's hands and into the net for the 1-0 lead. Arroyo connected again under eight minutes later at the 11:35 mark, with help from an assist by Aaron Glover. A 2-0 lead didn't stop Sonoma State from pouring it on as Varnadore sent another one home, his eighth goal of the season to put the Seawolves up 3-0 in the first 15:51 of the match.

Cal State Stanislaus stopped the bleeding and held Sonoma State to just three more shots in the remainder of the first half. The Warriors also attempted three more after the 15:51 mark, but the Seawolves led 3-0 at halftime and held a 7-4 advantage in shots.

As quick as the second half started, so did the offensive intensity by the host Warriors. A shot by Manny Avila at 47:37 wasn't able to be cleared by the Sonoma State defense. Therefore, the ball bounced around the penalty box and Cal State Stanislaus finally got on the board when Paul Oei snuck one past SSU keeper Andrew Ball. Six minutes later at 53:56, Jose Velasquez gave the Warriors and their home crowd a glimmer of hope, netting a shot attempt into the upper right corner to trail by one goal at 3-2.

The Warriors kept attacking and creating chances, especially in the final 15 minutes when they attempted seven shots. One of the seven shots equalized the score at 3-3 when Velasquez connected on a free kick from 23 yards at 78:21, knotting the score at 3-3. Not even six minutes later, the Warriors scored the eventual game winner; a header by Daniel Kuczynski that came off of a throw in by Nolan Holdridge at 84:12.

The Seawolves earned one last chance to force another tie when SSU was awarded a corner kick at 87:06. However, Cal State Stanislaus was able to clear the ball and it would end up being the last chance for Sonoma State before the clock read 90:00.

Cal State Stanislaus peppered the Sonoma State defense with shots in the second half, 12-5 (16-12 in the match), led by the four shots off the foot of Velasquez, who netted two of them.

Varnadore recorded four shots to lead the Seawolves attack. Both goalkeepers, Ball and Hambleton, made one save for their respective teams.

Sonoma State will return home next weekend after a four-match road trip. The Seawolves will host Cal State L.A. on Friday at 4:00 p.m.