 "Photo: SSU Sports Info")
The Sonoma State women's soccer team fell 2-1 to the high powered Cal Poly Pomona Broncos in Friday's CCAA match-up, and suffered another heartbreaking loss to Cal State San Bernadino in yet another double overtime match, leaving the Seawolves at a 3-4-1 record overall, and 1-2-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Cal Poly Pomona's Carolyn Rubendall struck first in Friday's game down south at Kellogg's Field to open up the scorecard at 1-0 in the 19th minute for the Broncos.
The Broncos dominated the first half against SSU, attempting nine shots against Sonoma goalie Courtney Grixtie to Sonoma's three shots against Bronco netminder Nakisha Gutierrez.
Sonoma's usual dominant offense had a sleepy first half against the Broncos, as Seawolves Megan Cunningham, Bre Robles and Sara Studer were the only players in the blue and white to attempt a shot in the first half.
Sonoma defenders had a busy 90 minutes containing a forceful Bronco offense that attempted 14 shots against the Grixtie on the day, as the Seawolf goalie committed five saves.
The lady Seawolves nearly fell victim to a pair of goals against them in the 26th minute when Bronco Mary Carroll attempted a shot that hit the post and deflected away from the goal.
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the second half showed a different Sonoma offense, as Taylor Edmonds attempted a shot against the Bronco goalie only a minute into the second half for the Seawolves.
The two CCAA forces committed shots against each other throughout the duration of the second half, but Sonoma prevailed when Tracy Webster blew a loose ball past Gutierrez to come up with her third goal on the season in the 59th minute to knot the game at 1-1.
As the match maintained a 1-1 tie for the duration of the second half, Sonoma almost went into their second overtime in two games until in the 85th minute when Andrea Salerno came up with her first goal of the season for the Broncos after being subbed in just three minutes prior to her game-winning goal to settle the score at 2-1.
Cal Poly Pomona led in most aspects of the match; they outnumbered the Seawolves in shots, corner kicks and saves.
Seeking to bounce back from the loss to the Broncos, the lady Seawolves focused their attention on the Coyotes from San Bernadino.
The match started off in the right direction for the Seawolves, as senior Lindsay Catton struck first for Sonoma off of a penalty kick late in the tenth minute to put the Seawolves up 1-0.
The Coyotes and Seawolves were evenly matched offensively, as the Sonoma State committed 11 shot attempts during the match to San Bernadino's 10 against Grixtie.
It wasn't until late in regulation when Coyotes' Casey Hirsch put the ball past Grixtie with 3:23 left in the second half. This goal sent the Seawolves into overtime for the second time in three games.
There was no action until the second overtime when Sonoma attempted two shots on goal against the Coyotes, but the San Bernadino goalie came up with some crucial saves. The final dagger was Unity Beddingfield ending the game on a goal that came across field, and past Grixtie for the win.
"We played a perfect game for 87 minutes," head coach Luke Oberkirch told SSU sports. "To give up that one goal off of a corner kick for the tie was crushing."
The Seawolves fall to 1-2-1 in the CCAA after the loss to Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernadino. The Seawolves return to the field on Fri., Sept. 25 to battle San Francisco State at 1:30 p.m.
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