• Final Stats
     • VIDEO: Kelsey  Jenkins  |  • VIDEO: Coach Chuck  Sekyra

LOS ANGELES – 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 third-seeded 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.

“Tough loss to take because I think we have a very good soccer team,” said SPU coach Chuck Sekyra. “Overall I'm proud of the season, 17-3. I felt like we had the talent to be in the Final Four this year, I really did. Hopefully we can learn from this, get stronger and become an even better team and grow from it and go for this next year.”

Second seed Cal State L.A. (13-4-3) advances to the West Region championship game to meet the winner of Sunday's matchup 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 for 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.

“The kids battled back after the mishap and got it back, which I was really proud of,” Sekyra said. “We played better in the second half, played with more energy were a little more composed and had better organization. We had some chances and played in their end more than not, but it just wasn't to be.”

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

“Megan made something out of nothing. She got the ball with a defender on her hip, turned and hit the upper V,” Sekyra described. “Megan strived to make a difference in the game and she's done that all year. She should have an amazing senior year, but I'm proud of what she did her junior year as well.”

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 gathered by Walworth.

“Arden was right where she needed to be back post and had a good shot, but their sweeper cleared the ball off the line,” said Jenkins. “A lot of the girls up near the end line said that is was over the end line. Obviously we can't do anything about that.”

Yokers (Kent, Wash./Kentridge HS) 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.

Saturday marked the final appearance in an SPU uniform for five seniors, including Jenkins. She talked about their collegiate careers that began as members of the 2008 national championship team.

“Freshman year, the national championship was quite a way for anyone to start their college career. But what is special about this team is we really are a family. They really have been my family the last four years.

“It's a tough way to leave, but I know how these girls battle back, they'll be good for years to come. I can't wait to cheer them on.”

The Falcons other seniors are Hamre, Yokers, Janie Wurth and Mandy Verdoia.



 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Division II Tournament, 2nd Round
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Jesse Owens Stadium/Los Angeles, Caif.
 
Cal State L.A. 2, (#5) Seattle Pacific 1
 
Scoring – 1, CSLA, Janet Mendez, 1:22; 2, SPU, Megan Lindsay (Brandi Hamre), 28:19; 3, CSLA, Lisa Ohberg (Mendez), 79:56.
 
Shots – SPU 11, CSLA 10.
Saves –SPU 5 (Brooke Yokers), CSLA 5 (Jessie Walworth 4).
Corners – SPU 6, CSLA 4
Fouls – SPU 9, CSLA 11.
Offsides – SPU 1, CSLA 2.
Attendance – 225.
 
Records –
Seattle Pacific 17-3-0
Cal State L.A. 13-4-3