SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State women's soccer team outscored Cal State San Marcos 3-2 on penalty kicks in the first round of the CCAA Championships. Officially, the contest goes down as a 0-0 double overtime draw.
The contest ends the season for the Cougars (7-7-4) while the Golden Gators (10-5-3), the No. 9 ranked team in the NCAA Division II West Region, will live to play another day.
The first half was a defensive showdown.
Ana Williams recorded the first shot of the contest in the 16th minute. In the 27th, Cal State San Marcos' Lauren Perry ripped a shot from the left side for the Cougars' first opportunity, but the chance was blocked by a Gator defender. With two minutes left,
Tami Kwong fired a shot from the near post but goalkeeper Bailey Cockrill got a good jump and made the diving stop to her right.
Five minutes into the second half, Kwong received a nice pass up the middle of the field, but the defender pulled back to get the offsides call. The Cougar offense controlled the ball in the offensive zone to open up the half, ripping off three shots in the first 15 minutes. The Gators brought back the pressure and dropped in some set pieces, but San Marcos was able to clear every potential chance. In the 75th Janessa Staab took a free kick from about a midway in the offensive zone and sent in a cross. The ricochet found Emily Kaleal, but her shot was blocked. Ally King then received the ball from the left side and ripped a shot far post that just sailed wide. In the 80th, Alyssa Pigoni took a free kick from outside the box that was going to the top shelf, but Nicki Rucki made a fantastic jumping save to get a hand on it and punch the ball out.
San Francisco State did not attempt a shot in the first overtime period. Rucki made another great save as the Cougars got three shots in the first overtime period. In the second overtime, King took a header at the near off of a corner kick but Cockrill made the save.
Janessa Staab made the first of the Gators' penalty kicks. The Gators next three shots were stopped until
Kelsie Bozart netted a second one.
Marriah Perez made the Gators final attempt to make it 3-2 and Rucki made one final stop, then collapsed in celebration, only to be hoisted upon her teammates' shoulders.
The Gators will head south to face No. 6 UC San Diego on Friday, November 2 at . The top-seeded Tritons are hosting the 2018 CCAA Championships.
