The Warriors of the women's soccer team made a statement early with three first half goals as No. 13 Cal State Stanislaus beat Cal State L.A., 3-1, Sunday at Warrior Stadium.
Goals by Allie Dugan, Karenee Demery and Tina Benson in the first half propelled the Warriors as they improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division. Cal State L.A., which beat No. 3 Chico State, 4-1 on Friday, dropped to 2-1-1 overall and 1-1 in the CCAA.
"Going into the game I was very confident we would bounce back," head coach Gabriel Bolton said. "We played well on Friday night except for about 10 minutes so I knew we were more than capable of playing well."
Demery then added a late goal in the final minute for the end result. Demery has amassed 100 career points (41 goals, 18 assists) with her sixth goal of the season. She also helped on the Dugan score while Emily Relles picked up two assists.
The victory marked the first for Cal State Stanislaus over the Golden Eagles since 2006, ending a six-match winless streak (0-4-2). The Warriors lost at L.A. in overtime last season.
Dugan got the scoring going first in the 15th minute. She received a pass from Demery, who was doubled-teammed in the box, and tapped it in from seven yards out. Moments later Dugan almost added another goal on a similar play but her shot sailed just high of the cross bar.
Demery scored her first goal on the day at 18:11 after a couple of nice passes from Emily Relles and Bernie Bettencourt.
In the 41st minute, while some of the starters were given rest time with a 2-0 lead, Benson and Apryl Whitney came in to team-up for the 3-0 lead. Benson scored on a blast from just inside the box.
"We executed our game plan to near perfection today which was exciting to see," Bolton added.
Heather Williams gave Cal State L.A. a goal in the 50th minute, but that was all the Golden Eagles had to show on the day as the Warriors out-shot L.A. 14-5. L.A. was held to just two shots on frame.
Demery found the back of the net for the second time on the day inside the final minute with Alexia Poon and Katelyn Nebesnick assisting on the play.
"Karenee has been a fantastic player for our program and an even better person. I couldn't ask for more out of a student-athlete," said Bolton of Demery's 100th career point.
Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay will be the Warriors' next two opponents at home next weekend. Friday's match against East Bay is at 4:30 p.m.