Saturday, November 12, 2011

Janet Mendez scored the first goal and assisted on the game-winner Saturday for Cal State L.A. which posted a 2-1 second-round win at Jesse Owens Stadium that eliminated fifth-ranked Seattle Pacific from the NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament.

The Falcons (17-3-0), who were participating in the playoffs for the ninth straight season, had defeated Grand Canyon 4-0 in the first round Thursday.

Cal State L.A. (13-4-3) advances to the West Region championship game to meet the winner of Sunday's match up between UC San Diego and Chico State.

The decisive goal came in the 80th minute off the foot of Lisa Ohberg. She collected a pass from Mendez at the left side of the box and lined a 15-yard shot across the goal.

The ball trickled just past the outstretched arms of diving goalkeeper Brooke Yokers and nestled inside the right post at 79:56.

SPU had two late chances to tie. With three minutes remaining the ball ricocheted off a defender's head in the CSULA goalmouth, but SPU's Kelsey Jenkins was unable to get a head or foot to it and it carried out for a corner kick.

Brandi Hamre's low 17-yard shot from the center with 1:31 on the clock was smothered by goalkeeper Jessie Walworth. That was the last shot of the contest by either team.

The Golden Eagles opened the scoring just 1:22 into the game, capitalizing on a defensive miscue.

Ayana Younge sent a long ball from her defensive end to the SPU half. Mendez sprinted down the left side toward the ball with a defender at her side while Yokers raced off her line.

The SPU goalkeeper ran a few feet out of her 18-yard box to clear the ball, but her kick caromed off the Eagles midfielder toward the SPU goal.

Mendez caught up to the ball and lined a 15-yard shot across the open goal and into the right inside netting.

Megan Lindsay equalized for SPU at 28:19 with her team-leading 12th goal. She received a short through pass from Brandi Hamre in the right side of the box, turned and sent a 16-yard strike into the upper right corner.

The Falcons nearly took the lead during the final minute of the half. The ball squirted away from a scramble at the right of the Eagles box and freshman Arden Matro got a look at the open goal from 14 yards on the left side.

Her shot appeared to cross the goal line before being cleared off by defender Justine Telles. The referee did not signal a goal and the put-back attempt by Jenkins was collected by Walworth.

Yokers suffered her first setback in nine games as SPU's starter. She stopped five shots. Walworth made four saves for the Eagles, who were outshot by a slim 11-10 margin.