CARSON, Calif. – Three first-half goals made it obvious who was going to come out on top in the CUI vs. Cal St. Dominguez Hills Friday-night women's soccer matchup.
With two back-to-back goals in the 18
th and 20
th minutes, CUI asserted their dominance from the very start. Both goals were from corner kicks taken by
Nikki Marino whose strategic ball placement played a key role in both goals, despite not being credited with the assist on either.
The first goal in the 18
th minute came from a Marino corner kick converted to a shot by
Gabby Breton that ricocheted off the CSUDH goalie but was then headed in by
Hailey Havican for her first season-goal with the Golden Eagles. Breton therefore racked up her first assist of the season.
Two minutes later, Marino got another chance at a corner kick which stayed on the ground but remained in a dangerous zone for the opposition. The Toros thought they had cleared it but senior
Riley Walkington got ahold of it and placed a dime of a pass in the perfect spot for her 3-year teammate
Layla Comeaux to send it to the back of the net for her first goal of the season as well. Walkington will add this assist to her Monday-night one to account for two assists already this season.
The dimes don't stop there, however. The third goal of the half by
Antonella Russo resulted from a beautiful cross-pitch pass from
Irandy Erazo. Erazo gained possession just south of the half-way line and placed it perfectly just north of the goal box. Russo grabbed it on the run, had two-dribbles, then a shot to the top right-hand corner just out of reach of CSUDH's goalie.
The second half was quieter in the stat book for the offense, but the Golden Eagles continued to apply pressure despite a few offside calls that interrupted scoring opportunities. The pressure especially showed on the back-half of the pitch with
Erica Ihlein and
Riley Urquiza in the goal for CUI. They both tallied 2 saves but the most notable one was a diving save by Ihlein to lock-down the shutout when the Toros were given the only PK of the game in the 87
th minute.
The Golden Eagles continue to impress with their second consecutive multi-goal shutout. This builds on their 4-0 defeat of No. 1 Western Washington earlier this week on Labor Day. Catch them back in action in San Bernardino, Calif. On Tuesday September 12 at 2pm.
To see the full CUI women's soccer schedule
CLICK HERE