INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The NCAA selection committee announced the 2009 women's and men's championship match-ups this week, with the men facing a familiar foe, and the women facing the winner of the Pacific West Conference for the first time in the history of the program.
The 4th-seeded women's team will face 5th-seeded Dixie State in the Cal State L.A. sub-regional on Friday, November 13, at noon, while the 2nd-seeded men's squad, fresh off the 2009 CCAA Championship after a 3-2 double OT win against Sonoma State, again will face their 3rd-seeded arch-rival at 4:00 pm on Friday, also hosted by host Cal State L.A.
Dixie State is making its first trip to the big dance after winning the PacWest Conference with a record of 14-4, just its second year of eligibility. Senior forward Makala Wilkes led the Red Storm with 12 points and 29 goals, finishing second in the conference in scores.
The Toros, at 13-8-1 and coming off a CCAA Championship game appearance yesterday, counter with a lethal triple threat in 1st-team All-CCAA Jessica Murphy, 2nd-team All-CCAA Makenzie Pedrotti and CCAA Newcomer of the Year Britney Vance, who have combined for 22 of the team's 30 goals, as well as keeper Alyssa Congdon, who leads the CCAA in shutouts with 10.
Sonoma State, which enters the men's regional at 14-4-4, also appeared in yesterday's CCAA Title Game before falling 3-2 in double overtime to the Toros, making them winless in two games against the defending national champions. Taylor Jones leads the Seawolves with 7 goals, with Cam Vickers posting 9 assists and 3 goals. A quartet of SSU players follows with 4 goals apiece while keeper Brook Johnson has logged all 2102:43 minutes in goal, boasting 8 shutouts and a 0.81 GAA.
The CCAA Champion Toros, meanwhile, counter with 1st-team All-CCAA Andrew Marinez's 8 goals and 6 assists, as well as 11 goals by the offensive-minded duo of Greg Piechota and Brian Alvarez. Additionally, reigning NSCAA Player of the Year defender now two-time CCAA MVP Defense Kevin Gallaugher has chipped in 6 goals, with 5 coming via penalty kick, while freshman keeper phenomenon and 2nd-team All-CCAA Markus Dickerson has tallied all but 45 minutes in net for the Toros with 9 shutouts and a 0.76 GAA, garnering the Beaumont native CCAA Newcomer of the Year honors at the close of the regular season.
Here are the seeds and match-ups for the 2009 NCAA West Regional:
WOMEN'S SOCCER
UC San Diego Sub-Regional (La Jolla, CA)
Thursday, November 12
No. 6 Chico State vs. No. 3 Seattle Pacific - TBA
Saturday, November 14
No. 6 / No. 3 Winner vs. No. 2 UC San Diego - TBA
Cal State L.A. Sub-Regional (Los Angeles, CA)
Friday, November 13
No. 5 Dixie State vs. No. 4 Cal State Dominguez Hills - 12 noon
Sunday, November 15
No. 5 / No. 4 Winner vs. No. 1 Cal State L.A. - 12 noon
Winners of the sub-regionals to meet Thursday, November 19, or Friday, November 20, location TBA.
MEN'S SOCCER (Los Angeles, CA - Host: Cal State L.A.)
Friday, November 13
No. 3 Sonoma State vs. No. 2 Cal State Dominguez Hills - 4 pm
No. 4 CS San Bernardino vs. No. 1 Cal State L.A. - 7 pm
Sunday, November 15
No. 3 / No. 2 Winner vs. No. 4 / No. 1 Winner - 3 pm
Stay tuned to www.GoToros.com for all the updates.