CARSON, Calif. -- Despite playing a man down since midway through the first half, the Sonoma State men's soccer team took a 2-0 lead after goal by Armando Coronel in the 66th minute, but host Cal State Dominguez Hills responded with two goals in the final 18 minutes of regulation and the game-winner four minutes into the first overtime to stun the Seawolves, 3-2, on Sunday at Toro Stadium in Carson. 

With three matches left in the regular season, Sonoma State (7-7-1, 2-5-1 CCAA) finds itself in a tie for eighth place with SF State in the conference standings, five points back of Humboldt State, which currently holds the sixth place spot -- the top six teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for this year's CCAA tournament.  CSU Dominguez Hills remains in third place in the CCAA standings at 6-2-0 (8-6-1 overall).

"That was a typical, crazy Sonoma State-Cal State Dominguez Hills game," said SSU head coach Marcus Ziemer.  "We battled and played hard, especially when we had to play a man down for most of the day.  I'm proud of the boys, we just haven't been getting any breaks."

The aforementioned red card came flying out in the 27th minute as a result of two yellow cards issued to Jose Avalos.  It came after the Seawolves led 1-0 on a Cedric Dinane score just 8:45 into the contest.

At 65:37, Sonoma State was being outshot 9-4, but the fifth SSU shot found the back of the net after Coronel stole the ball from a Toro defender deep in CSUDH territory, spun and fired a shot into the upper left corner for the 2-0 Seawolf lead.

Just two minutes later, Sean Callahan nearly put Sonoma up 3-0, but his shot attempt would bang off the crossbar and Toro defenders were able to clear the ball out of danger.

Cal State Dominguez Hills began its comeback in the 72nd minute with a score to cut the Sonoma State lead in half at 2-1.  Then, eight minutes later, the Toros knotted the game at 2-2.  The Seawolves had two opportunities to regain the lead in the 84th minute, but attempts by Coronel and Eric Alvarado were saved at point-blank range.

Neither team could convert before the 90-minute whistle, but in the extra time, just 3:59 into the overtime period, Cal State Dominguez Hills' Israel Murguia connected on a bicycle kick that hit off the post and bounced across the goal line for the sudden Toro victory.

The hosts outshot Sonoma 17-8, including a 9-6 margin in shots on goal.  SSU keeper Sean Taufer made six saves while CSUDH netminder Dylan Roberts made four.

"This is the best 7-7-1 team I've ever coached," Ziemer said.  "We are playing well and staying positive and will try to bounce back next game.  Except for our first game at Simon Frasier, we have been in every game and could have won."

Sonoma State will return to the Seawolf Soccer Field next weekend to play two of its final three regular season matches, beginning with a Friday matchup with UC San Diego at 3:00 pm.  The Seawolves will then host undefeated Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday at 2:00 pm for Senior Day before wrapping up the regular season at SF State the following Thursday (Oct. 30).