Box Score
TURLOCK — In a thrilling championship-atmosphere match, the Cal State Stanislaus women's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker in the second overtime period.
Top seed Cal State L.A. edged Cal State Stanislaus, 2-1, in a semifinal match of the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference championship tournament. The match was played in front of nearly 700 fans at Warrior Stadium.
Alex Conley scored the game-winner with 8:55 left in the second OT to sent the Golden Eagles to the championship match on Sunday against San Francisco State.
For Cal State Stanislaus, the host institution of the tournament, it again had to overcome adversely and battled from behind to tie the score 1-1 in the second half. Conference most valuable offensive player Karenee Demery scored her 19th goal of the season at 61:51 to even the score. Demery got a cross from Alisa Barlow and fend off defenders to score from 13 yards out.
"I have never been so proud of a team as I am tonight," CSUS head coach Gabriel Bolton said. "We gave absolutely everything we had for the entire match. I was very proud of the way we battled back to tie the match."
Cal State L.A. got an early 1-0 lead in the first half when Ann Marie Tangorra netted the goal at 14:31 on a shot 23 yards out. The 25th ranked Golden Eagles are now 15-3 overall.
Cal State Stanislaus suffered a big blow in the first half when starting goalkeeper Millie Brown went down after nine minutes of play when she reactivated a knee injury on a punt. Freshman goalkeeper Marriah Kessler played well and picked up five saves in 92 minutes-plus of play.
"Marriah played a fantastic game tonight. It is not easy to come off the bench as a freshman goalkeeper nine minutes into the match," Bolton said. "She played with temendous confidence and made some terrific stops."
The Warriors had numerous scoring chances throughout, creating great offensive possessions and scoring opportunities despite being out-shot 19-10.
Cal State L.A.'s Gabriella Batmani had two saves in goal. It was the second time Cal State L.A. defeated the Warriors 2-1 at Warrior Stadium this season.
The Warriors, now 12-6-1, will have wait until Monday to find out their fate for the NCAA postseason. Cal State Stanislaus entered the week ranked No. 6 in the West Region. Six teams qualify for the NCAA Championships next week. The field will be announced at NCAA.com Monday at 4 p.m. Pacific.
Friday night's announced attendance was 697, however, more students came and witness the latter portion of the event after the conclusion of the volleyball match in the Arena. The estimated crowd likely surpassed 900 loud fans, many of them CSUS students.
"Tonight's crowd and environment was spectacular! This is why players come to Cal State Stanislaus. To be part of the best environment in women's college soccer," Bolton said.
In other tournament action on the women's side, San Francisco State defeated UC San Diego in dramatic fashion as well. After the teams tied 1-1 after 110 minutes, the Gators out-matched the Tritons 4-3 in penalty kicks to advance to Sunday's championship match.
Cal State Dominguez Hills and Sonoma State will square off in the men's championship on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. after winning on Friday. CSUDH beat Chico State 3-0 and Sonoma State edged Cal State San Bernardino 1-0.
