TURLOCK -- Eric Lafon's goal in overtime was the final blow in a very physical game Sunday at Turlock Regional Sports Complex, as the No. 2 Seawolves held off the Warriors, 3-2, in both teams' California Collegiate Athletic Association opener.
The goal was Lafon's second of the match and came just two minutes into the first overtime period to give the Seawolves the win and move their record to 6-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in CCAA play. Andrew Bailey assisted on the play. Cal State Stanislaus falls to 1-2-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the CCAA.
Sonoma State, coming off its first loss of the season Friday against Notre Dame de Namur, dominated the ball for most of the game, outshooting the Warriors 26-11 and taking eight corner kicks to the Warriors' one.
With less than 16 minutes left in the match, senior defender Matt Ryan got hold of a loose ball from 25 yards out. Ryan drove the ball just out of the reach of Seawolves goalkeeper Brook Johnson into the upper right corner to tie the score at 2-2 and eventually send the game into overtime.
The Seawolves struck first with a goal in the 15th minute from their lead scorer Ross Middlemiss, his eighth of the season. Davide Furtado beat a defender before feeding a pass to Middlemiss in the penalty area, who shot it past a diving Javier Rosales in goal for the Warriors.
The Warriors answered back with an unassisted goal from Matthew Johnson to make the score 1-1. Johnson dribbled back and forth several times before finally getting past the defender and shooting from the top of the penalty box for his third goal of the season. Johnson has now scored in three straight matches.
The score would stay that way heading into halftime. Lafon picked up his first goal of the match in the 66th minute with a feed from Middlemiss. Lafon made it through a crowded penalty box and was able to put the ball into the back of the net to give Sonoma State a 2-1 lead.
A total of 23 fouls and five yellow cards were issued in the match. Rosales made eight saves for the Warriors between the posts.
The Warriors continue CCAA play at 12:30 p.m. on Friday when Cal State San Bernardino comes to the Turlock Regional Sports Complex. Cal Poly Pomona will visit at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
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