BOX SCORE #18 Sonoma State 1, Cal State Stanislaus 1 (F/2OT) -- Box Score

ROHNERT PARK -- Evan Filipczyk scored just 6:47 into the match and Beau Diaz made a game-saving stop in the second overtime, but despite a 13-7 advantage in shots, the Sonoma State men's soccer team was forced into a 1-1 tie with visiting Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday afternoon at the Seawolf Soccer Field.  The Seawolves, ranked at No. 18 in last week's NSCAA Division II Coaches' Poll, move to 5-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the CCAA, remaining three points ahead of Chico State for first place in the North Division standings.  The Warriors go to 4-1-2 and 2-1-2 in conference action.

"We battled today and were unlucky not to get the win," head coach Marcus Ziemer said.  "We hit the post a couple of times, they saved a couple of balls off of the line and there were a couple of scrambles in front of the goal.  (Cal State) Stanislaus is very good.  I thought it was a good college soccer game."

It didn't take long for the Seawolves to find the net as Filipczyk connected on a free kick from 35 yards out that bounced in between defenders and past Warrior netminder Clint Long for the 1-0 lead.  Sonoma State would continue to put pressure on Long and his defenders, taking eight of the 10 shots combined between the two teams in the first 45 minutes.  Long would come up big on several occassions, however, making three saves to keep Cal State Stanislaus close.

Offensively, the Warriors struggled to get through the stifling Seawolf defense, but one of their two shots in the half found the back of the net, which came at 37:40 on a header by Nolan Holdridge to knot the game at 1-1.

It would then turn into a back-and-forth battle, but Sonoma State found itself with excellent chances to take the lead.  The ball, however, would take some unlucky bounces and keep the score knotted at one, ultimately sending the game into extra time.  Each team would attempt a shot in each of the two overtime periods, including one header by Taylor Varnadore in the 100th minute that bounced off the ground and off the crossbar, and another off of a free kick by CSUS' Holdridge in the 109th minute that angled up and around the wall of SSU defenders, but was knocked away at the last minute by Diaz, who went flying to his right to preserve the tie score.  It would be the final chances for either team.

Varnadore led all players with seven shots on the day, and six others also fired a shot, including Filipczyk's goal in the seventh minute.  Diaz made one save, which turned out to be the game-saver.  His counterpart, Long, made five stops between the posts.

"We mixed up the lineup today after Friday's overtime loss to Chico (State)," explained Ziemer.  "Brian Angel came in and played very well and I thought that Nico Spann worked very hard today.  Our defense was great; Dylan Stafford and Trevor Tennant were solid in the middle and Daniel Theobald and Frank Beceril played great out wide."

Ziemer finished by saying, "Even though we didn't win today, I was happy with how hard we battled.  We don't play until Sunday (Sept. 30) at Chico, so we can heal up and get ready to get back on a roll.  The North (Division) is very tough this year, so nothing is going to come without a fight."

After next Sunday's match at Chico State (11:30 a.m.), Sonoma State will return back home for four more home games, beginning with an Oct. 5 tilt with UC San Diego.