Cal State Stanislaus’ NCAA soccer run ends in dramatic fashion

The magical ride is over for the Cal State Stanislaus women’s soccer team.

Colorado School of Mines withstood a furious attack on its goal during regulation and two overtime periods to send the scoreless game into penalty kicks, where it beat the Warriors 4-3 on Sunday in an NCAA Division II Tournament quarterfinal in Golden, Colo.

The Orediggers (17-1-5) advance to the national semifinals on Dec. 4 in Louisville, Ky., where it will meet Rollins College.

Stanislaus, which made a valiant, deep playoff run, ends the season at 16-5-1.

The Warriors peppered the Colorado goal for most of the game, holding a 27-6 shots advantange – 7-2 on goal – and came close on several attempts to break the scoreless tie.

Kirsten Coleman, the Enochs High graduate who scored two goals on Friday, hit the post in the 62nd minute. Several other attempts in regulation were thwarted.

The attack continued into the first two 10-minute overtime, but the Warriors couldn’t get a goal against a Colorado team that has allowed just six all season.

In the penalty shootout, the Warriors missed on their first two attempts and Colorado’s Kendra Bulawa coverted for a 1-0 lead heading into the third of five rounds. Maryssa McDuffy, Jordan Moineau and Katie Foster all eventually scored for the Warriors.

However, after Foster knotted the score at 3-3, Colorado, with one attempt left and needing a goal to win, saw Kenzie King knock it through.

“As a coach in a big game you hope that your team gives an effort and performance worthy of the moment. There is no doubt we did that today," Stanislaus coach Gabe Bolton said. “We pounded their goal for 110 minutes. Full credit to Mines. They are a terrific defensive team and did not concede. But I can’t ask for anything more from our players. They were amazing.”

The Orediggers will play Rollins College (18-2) of Winter Park. Fla. The Tars beat Columbus State 2-1 in another quarterfinal. In the other side of the semifinal bracket, Grand Valley State (Allendale, Mich.) will play College of Saint Rose (Albany, N.Y.)

Stanislaus reached the quarterfinal game by winning the West Region championship with a 2-0 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.

Stanislaus, which was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament at home last year in the second round, had to overcome a rough path to get to Sunday’s game.

The team had to rely on an at-large berth after failing to finish in the top six of the California College Athletic Conference. Last year, the Warriors won the CCAA.

Still, there were signs of life after a four-game late-season scoreless and winless streak. They won the last two regular-season games, then won their first three tournament games – all on the road.

After Friday’s victory, Bolton credited his seniors for helping to rejuvenate the team. He mentioned that younger players can hit a wall during the season, and that it’s the veterans who often provide the steady guidance.

“These seniors have been fantastic,” he said. “They have won three championships in their four years and have really taken the program to new heights.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2014 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Cal State Stanislaus’ NCAA soccer run ends in dramatic fashion."