CARSON, CALIF. - On Thursday, October 6th, the Sonoma State men's soccer team headed south to play in the annual Dignity Health Sports Park game, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Seawolves last participated in this game back in 2019 in what was previously known as the StubHub Center. The big stage did not disappoint as the Seawolves went toe-to-toe with the #3 ranked team in the nation but Cal State Dominguez Hills would net a late goal in the 76th minute to hold off SSU, 2-1. 

The Toros showed their strength early on with pressing attacks and high ball pressure. In the 13th minute, they would strike first off a corner kick from the far side. An in-swinging left footed ball would find its way to the back post where the Toros center back would collect the ball and poke one through the Seawolves keeper to take a 1-0 lead. The Toros would catch SSU on the counter later in the half but the Seawolves would catch a break as a netted Dominguez Hills goal would be ruled offside and keep it a one goal game. Sonoma State would get outshot 8-3 as they would enter halftime down a goal but still well in the game.

After needing a presence up top and to create some ball loss, freshmen Jvon Cunningham and Michael Gray would give SSU just that as the duo started to cause some real problems for the Toros defense. In the 63rd minute, Cunningham would find himself one-on-one out on the right side and take a power dribble to the endline. Cunningham would get the edge on the Toros defender and play a dangerous cutback ball into the six yard box to fellow freshman Michael Gray. Gray would fire a one-time shot but right into the center of the Toros keeper. Minutes later Cunningham would find open space on the left wing and make a great move inside to fire off a shot outside the box, forcing the Dominguez Hills keeper to make a lunging save and tip the ball over the bar.   

The Seawolves would smell blood and with the game intensifying, both teams would see chances on the counter. Just a minute later after Cunningham's shot on goal, the Toros would successfully defend the ensuing corner kick and launch on the counter. With multiple tracking defenders, the Toros would play their way into the end third but not before sophomore defender Federico Barbieri would make a last ditch slide tackle to break up the Toros pass onto goal. Sophomore keeper Reinier ter Riet would make a defensive play of his own in the 73rd minute with a diving save to his left, keeping out a Toros shot off of swift ball movement inside the box. 

After back and forth play from both teams, freshman winger Patrick Neill would give SSU the light they needed. Neill would pick the Toros defender in build-up just outside their own box and then drive into the penalty area. As the Dominguez Hills defender tried to recover he would snag Neill's arm and pull him down in the process, earning Sonoma State a penalty in the 74th minute. Senior midfielder Ulysses Vega played in his second stadium game of his SSU career and would step up for the penalty to tie the game. Vega tried to catch the keeper guessing and slot the ball down the middle but as the Toros defender would dive to his right, his legs would trail and make an incredible kick save to keep the ball out and maintain their 1-0 lead. Vega was 2-2 on penalty kicks this season before his miss in the 74th minute. 

Just two minutes later the game would look to be put to bed as Dominguez Hills would force ball loss on the sideline in SSU's half and drive onto goal. A slipped ball into the left side of the box would be returned centrally and then finished on a deflection into the left corner. Despite down two goals, the Seawolves would fight to the end as freshman Jvon Cunningham would continue his impactful second half and grab his first goal of his collegiate career. Cunningham found space on the left side once again and after cutting inside he would play midfielder Oswaldo Rojas at the top of the 18 and then make a darting run into the box. Rojas played a wonderful chipped ball over a Toros defender to play Cunningham into the box where he would connect on a one time shot off the short hop and laser it into the bottom corner. 

Dominguez Hills would ice the game by drawing some late fouls and running clock as they held off SSU to take the 2-1 victory. The Seawolves would battle to the end against the third ranked team in the nation with five players recording 80 minutes or more in the contest. Seniors Sean Rohane and Ulysses Vega would combine for four of the team's eight shots on the night. Reinier ter Riet would have an impressive night between the posts as he matched his career high with 7 saves.

Sonoma State falls to 4-5-3 overall and 1-3-1 in conference play. The Seawolves will return to Seawolf Soccer Field to close out the weekend in a home matchup against Cal State Monterey Bay. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 AM, live stats and ticket links can be found at sonomaseawolves.com and the game can also be streamed live on the CCAA Network. 

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