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Tina Benson
Marty Bicek

Stanislaus beats East Bay, misses CCAA tournament

10/30/2014 10:51:00 PM

Box Score TURLOCK - The Warriors women's soccer team ended the 2014 regular season on a high with an impressive 2-0 win over Cal State East Bay on senior night. However, they will miss the CCAA conference tournament for the first time in five years.

Despite the victory, teams the Warriors needed to have negative results - or at least a tie - all won on Thursday as Cal State Stanislaus will not qualify for the CCAA Championship tournament, which starts Sunday on campus sites with first round of play.

"Obviously we are disappointed not to be in the CCAA tournament. We are not some .500 program; 13-4-1 with the schedule we played is a great season," head coach Gabriel Bolton said. "I told the players that we will now turn our focus to the NCAA tournament and that they should be proud of what they accomplished this year so far."

The Warriors needed a tie or loss by either Sonoma State or UC San Diego but Sonoma State won at San Francisco State in overtime and UC San Diego defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills at home.

Cal State Stanislaus, the defending conference champion, had appeared in the CCAA postseason in each of the past four seasons, as well as 2005. The Warriors won two of the last three conference titles in 2011 and 2013.

Instead, Stanislaus will get a week off and hopes to get into the NCAA Championships the following week. The Warriors are ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA West Region poll with the top six teams advancing to the national tournament. The final poll, and the six teams invited to participate from the West, will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10.

"We played outstanding tonight in all phases. It was great to see the team clicking like they are at this point in the season," Bolton said.

On senior night Thursday, it was freshman Jade Poon who again put Stanislaus on the board with her 13th goal of the year in the 27th minute. Poon will finish the regular season as the second-best freshman scorer in terms of goals. Karenee Demery had 19 during her rookie season in 2010.

Senior Tina Benson made it 2-0 in the 57th minute off a cross from Kirsten Coleman, who ended up with two assists on the night.

Chelsea Lewandowski picked up three saves and the Warriors defense recorded its ninth shutout this season, only one fewer than 10 set in 2013.

The senior class of Katelyn Nebesnick, Lauren Thornton, Karli Nestler, Keisha Lyons and Benson was the winningest group with 57 victories and two conference championships. With defenders Thornton and Nestler, the Warriors recorded 32 shutouts.

"That's the winningest senior class in school history. They should be very proud of their accomplishments. If this was their last game it was great to send them out with a win," added Bolton.

The Warriors ended up one point shy of making the CCAA tournament as one of the top six teams. Cal Poly Pomona will host UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino will travel to Sonoma State on Sunday for the first round matches. Winners will join Cal State L.A. and Chico State the following Friday for the semifinals at Warrior Stadium.
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