Stanislaus women shooting for Sweet 16 goals in Golden

There was a first-round golden goal and a second-round victory over a top-ranked host school.

But what really impresses Cal State Stanislaus women’s soccer coach Gabe Bolton isn’t the wins or the fact his team has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Championship for the first time in school history.

He’s most proud of the focus and desire that allowed the Warriors to play themselves into this position.

“We had to travel and play in 20 degrees on Thursday, and we played fantastic,” he said of the 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific in the first of two games in Bellingham, Wash. “There was a lot of pressure in that first game, and we came back after we gave up a goal late in that game.

“Then we turned around and beat the nation’s No. 12 team (Western Washington) at their place on Saturday. And all that ... they’ve stayed in the game and focused for two weeks not knowing their fate. That, to me, is the most impressive thing we’ve accomplished so far.”

For this run to continue, Stanislaus (15-4-1) will have to get by a familiar foe. California Collegiate Athletic Association rival Cal Poly Pomona will face the Warriors on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.

Colorado Mines (16-1-4) faces Texas A&M Commerce (16-5) in the other regional game with the winners slated to meet Sunday at noon for the right to travel to Louisville, Ky., for the Final Four on Dec. 4 and 6.

Pomona (15-5-1) beat Point Loma 3-2 in overtime and then blanked host Cal State Los Angeles 1-0 to reach its first Sweet 16 in 15 years. The Broncos defeated Stanislaus 1-0 on Oct. 12 in Pomona, a game that started the Warriors’ four-game scoreless slide after reaching No. 1 in the nation.

Bolton believes his Warriors may have an advantage in the rematch. While the Broncos remained in balmy weather and had to travel all of 22 miles West on Interstate 10 for their first two rounds, Stanislaus had to travel to Washington to play in frigid weather and on artificial turf to win two games.

Thursday’s forecast in Golden calls for a high of 45 degrees, and the Orediggers’ field is carpeted with FieldTurf.

“I think going into this game that it’s a real positive that we’ve already traveled to Washington,” Bolton said. “We’ve already seen the frigid temperatures, already been on turf, and both of those will repeat themselves in Colorado.

“But we’re a way different team now from the first time we played Pomona, as are they. I don’t think I’ll have to get our players’ attention. For one, we’re in the Sweet 16, and two, we’re playing a conference rival who beat us the first time through.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2014 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Stanislaus women shooting for Sweet 16 goals in Golden."