SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State Dominguez Hills has played a prominent role in CCAA conference men's soccer for decades. The Toros have won 11 CCAA conference championships between 1982 and 2022 and captured the NCAA Div. II national championship in 2000 and 2008.
       
So, it was surprising to see the visitors get off to a slow start in 2023, entering Thursday's match with the Yotes at 0-3-1 in the CCAA. All three losses were shutouts. 

Facing a Yotes side that lost a hard-fought 1-0 decision to third-ranked Chico State on Sunday and entered the match with a 5-3-3 overall record and 2-1-1 in the CCAA while playing on home turf, a victory was in the offing.

Unfortunately, the Toros only shot on goal was successful. Nick Walker's unassisted goal in the 16th minute of the first half, his first of the season, was just enough to derail a Yotes victory attempt. It was the Toros first conference win in their fifth try and are now 1-3-1 in the CCAA  (4-4-3 overall). CSUSB slipped to 2-2-1 in conference play and 5-3-3 overall.

CSUSB had multiple chances to get a shot past goalkeeper Arturo Magana, including three tries in the first 14 minutes by Jonathan Mayen (2) and Tony Negrete. Mayen's first try sailed over the crossbar of the goal while Negrete's missed to the left of the net. Mayen's second try aimed toward the top of the net, was saved by Magana.

The Toros took a 1-0 lead into the second half and CSUSB's Travis Babineau had his shot blocked in the 55th minute, giving the Yotes a corner kick but nothing materialized. Five minutes later, another shot by Negrete sailed high. Martin Velasquez of Dominguez Hills got off his team's second shot of the match in the 65th minute to try and expand the lead but it, too, was high.

Things got a little chippy between the teams over the next 15 minutes as referees handed out three yellow cards, two of them to Toros players.

Babineau tried twice more to get the equalizer for the Yotes. His shot in the 84th minute was saved by Magana. Another Babineau try in the 86th minute was blocked, giving the Yotes a corner kick but they could not capitialize and the clock ran out on the 90 minute match before any further action happened.

The victory by the Toros just added to the misery they've dealt out to the Yotes during their series of matches dating back to 1986, the the third year of the Yotes men's soccer program. The Toros lead the all-time series now 37-13 with three ties. CSUDH has a 7-3-1 record against the Yotes over the past 10 years.

UP NEXT:  The Yotes travel to Cal State L.A on Sunday for a 2 p.m. CCAA match. Follow the match via stats at csusbathletics.com or by viewing the match being streamed on the CCAA network. Read Full Article