BOX SCORE Sonoma State 2, #8 Cal State Stanislaus 1 -- Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. – For the first time since 2008, the Sonoma State women's soccer team has captured the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title.  Behind goals from Ashley Martin and Shayla Mellenthin, the Seawolves survived a strong offensive effort by Cal State Stanislaus late in the second half to defeat the eighth-ranked Warriors, 2-1, at Warrior Stadium in Turlock on the final day of the regular season.

Sonoma State (15-2-1, 11-2-1 CCAA) earns the No. 1 seed in next weekend's CCAA Championship Tournament in Carson, Calif., and will play No. 4 seed Cal Poly Pomona, scheduled for Friday at 11:00 a.m.  Cal State Stanislaus (15-3-0, 11-3-0 CCAA) will be the No. 2 seed and matchup against No. 3 seed UC San Diego in the other women's semifinal match on Friday.

It was a tale of two halves, as the Seawolves controlled the majority of the first 45 minutes before the Warriors dominated the last 45 minutes.  While SSU held a 9-5 advantage in shots prior to halftime, CSUS came back and peppered Sonoma's defense and goalkeeper Alexis Sciacqua, outshooting the Seawolves 16-3, including 14-1 in the final 33 minutes of the match (an overall total shot count of 21-12, in favor of the Warriors). 

However, only one Cal State Stanislaus attempt would find the net, but it wouldn't matter as it came with just three seconds left in the match.  The Warriors also held an incredible 13-0 advantage in corner kicks, but Sciacqua, who made seven huge saves, and the Seawolf defense kept the CCAA's leading scorer, Karenee Demery, out of the net. 

It didn't take long for the Seawolves to get on board, just 7:59 to be exact.  Cara Curtin broke away from several defenders and sprinted down field with the ball, eventually going one-on-one with the last Warrior defender stationed in their own box.  Martin ran down the left side of the field uncontested and Curtin tapped a pass over to Martin, who then took a couple of dribbles and fired a shot off her left foot that sped past Cal State Stanislaus keeper Millie Brown and into the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead.

While Sonoma State enjoyed a 9-5 advantage in shots throughout the first 45 minutes, both teams head their share of excellent chances to add goals to the scoreboard.  However, outstanding defensive stops and saves by both Brown and SSU netminder Alexis Sciacqua allowed just the one goal by Martin early on.

Cal State Stanislaus stepped up its offensive pressure at the start of the second half, getting a shot from Demery that hit the post, then three corner kicks in a span of a minute, followed by a header shot by the Warriors' Allison Case, all in the first seven minutes of the half, but the Sonoma State defense would hold strong to keep the hosts out of the net. 

Then, in a blink of an eye, the Seawolves would be fouled near midfield, setting up a free kick from 40 yards out.  Shayla Mellenthin launched a kick into the box, but the ball would carry up and over everyone and sneak between the outstretched arms of a jumping Millie Brown and the cross bar to put SSU up 2-0 with 35 minutes left in regulation.

From then on, the Sonoma would be on the defensive.  The Warriors would outshoot the Seawolves 14-1 after Mellenthin's goal, but the only shot to find the net came at the 89:57 mark when Bernie Bettencourt connected on a last-second shot from 15 yards out.  But, Sonoma would blast the ensuing kickoff downfield, allowing the remaining time to expire.

Sonoma State reaches the CCAA tournament for just the fourth time in 12 years, and the only win in seven matches played at the conference event, where the Seawolves are 1-6-0, came back on Nov. 2, 2000 against Cal State Bakersfield.