The SF State Women’s soccer team failed to bring their A game and, as a result, suffered a 1-0 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday at Cox Stadium.
Toro freshman midfielder Sami Feinstein scored a remarkable late goal to hand the Gators just their second loss of the season.
“We have no idea (what happened). We don’t know what it is, “ said senior goalkeeper Annicia Jones. “That’s the frustrating part, I really don’t know what happened. There’s no answer for it.”
The teams entered the match-up with opposite trajectories. SF State came in to the game riding a three-game winning streak in which they had outscored their opponents 6-0. The Toros opened the season 4-0, but had lost their previous four games before Friday.
The match-up was physical, hard-fought and at times openly antagonistic. In recent games, the Gators have been able to fluster their opponents by roughing them up a bit. This time the Toros physicality appeared to put SF State off their game.
“Losing to them felt like getting punched in the stomach. We lost it ourselves. We made the mistakes,” said senior forward Kara Cunningham.
Both teams appeared ready to score throughout the first half. Each side had a number of opportunities that came just short.
Jones was called into the action early. She had to break up a number of potential chances in the early going.
Jones was forced to make a spectacular play when a loose ball came to Toro midfielder Lexi Ford all alone 15 yards away straight in front of the Gator goal. Ford hit a good shot, but Jones’s diving save and punch to send the ball over the bar were better.
The half closed at 0-0, but it appeared that both teams were due to get on the scoreboard.