“Complete satisfaction," said a jubilant Joe Flanagan, about the win, and the season.  "This team has come together at the right time, played its best soccer at the end of the season and played to its ultimate potential.  The team has been great over the past 2 or 3 weeks.  I can’t be more proud of a team because they played their best in these games that counted most, and that’s all I can ever ask of them.

“This was more satisfying because I realize now how tough it is to get back," he continued, soaked after a celebratory dousing of Gatorade from his team.  "The first one I was riding the wave of greatness.  This one, we made some adjustments along the way, and to see them come together at the end of season during our unbeaten streak was phenomenal to watch.”

The Toros dominated from the start of the contest, outshooting the Golden Lions 12-2 in the early going, including a 5-0 edge in shots on goal.  The scoreless tie evaporated in the 16th minute as Alvarez took a feed in front of the Dowling goal and blasted his shot off the keeper's chest from about 12 yards out.  

Collecting the ensuing rebound, Alvarez settled the ball after a bounce, and guided his second shot through three defenders and to the left of diving Golden Lion keeper Nemanja Veljovic, whose 6'6 frame wasn't long enough to stop the one-hopper.

That's where the score remained until the second half when the Toros added a pair of goals to put any hopes of a Dowling comeback attempt to rest.

Junior midfielder Andrew Marinez found himself dribbling uncontested in the 68th minute, and received the back end of a perfectly executed give-and-go before shuttling his shot past Veljovic's right for a 2-nil lead. "I am looking forward to doing it again and coming back", says Marinez of his hand in the win. "We wanted it more and we we're the better team. We came out and took care of business".

Junior midfielder Hiram Rangel then put the proverbial icing on the cake less than 10 minutes later by rocketing his blast to the upper far post after a feed from Mario Guerrero, setting off a wild celebration on the Toro sidelines and in the stands, where approximately 100 supporters made their way from southern California and Anchorage, Alaska to Pepin Stadium to witness history.

“I really felt we were the better team throughout and we showed that," Flanagan said.  "I love winning but the teams that were there this weekend saw a great CSUDH team that represented a national championship team.  The guys who cameo ff the bench made us a national championship team.  Depth was critical to our success.”

CSUDH, which finishes its Championship season at 21-2-4, got hot at the right time as the Toros posted a 13-game unbeaten streak to end 2008, which included five-consecutive wins in a dominant NCAA postseason in which they outscored their opponents 15-3, and posted 3 wins via shutout.

In the NCAA postseason, the Toros posted a 3-0 win over 25th-ranked Notre Dame de Namur in the first round (Nov. 13), and followed that with a 4-0 victory over 18th-ranked Cal State L.A. (Nov. 15) to claim the West Region title before taking out 3rd-ranked Midwestern State, 2-1, in a heart-stopping and foggy night in Carson (Nov. 22) to advance to the NCAA semifinals in Tampa.

Here, they disposed of host and 11th-ranked Tampa University 3-2 in overtime on Friday night before blasting Dowling to win the National Championship.

Symbolically, the final 3-0 tally was a perfect ending for this year's squad after dedicating its season to former Toro Jaret "JT" Minami, whose jersey number 3 was affixed to the left sleeve prior to the season's first game, and worn throughout the year.

A standout player for head coach Joe Flangan and the Toros from 2002-05, Minami passed away on August 3 at Torrance Memorial Hospital at the age of 25.  JT made 47 starts in 61 games played in his career, capping a four-year stint with 1st-team NSCAA All-Region and 2nd-team All-CCAA honors during his senior season.

In that memorable campaign, the backbone of CSUDH’s defensive unit helped lead the Toros to the NCAA Division II West Region Title and the NCAA D-II Quarterfinals, eventually falling to host and eventual National Champion Fort Lewis College.

“The number 3 was a lucky number for us tonight and in the playoffs," he reflects.  "We scored three goals in the first game, in the semi and then today, and posted three shutouts in the five playoff games.  In the first round, our team captain scored a hat trick and in these last two games, we had three different players score in each game.  We all believe JT was a big part of it.  Dedicating the season to him was a big thing for our team.  It was a bit of a rallying point to work for a player who epitomized what we’re all about as a soccer program.”

This marks the second NCAA National Title for the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer program after the Toros won their first in a 2-1 four-overtime thriller over Barry University in 2000, and the third overall NCAA National Title after the 1991 women's soccer team claimed the first ever NCAA Championship.

Mariano's Golden Goal Nets Win over No. 11 Tampa in NCAA Semifinals

 

Scott Mariano finished off host Tampa in overtime and sent the Toros to Sunday's title game

 

Tampa, FL -- Going into the first overtime tied at 2-2, it was Scott Mariano's golden goal at 94:23 that knotted the Toros their first NCAA Championship final appearance in seven years as they defeated No. 11 University of Tampa 3-2 on their home field.

Though giving Tampa the first point on the board 20 seconds into the game as Lister Warren grabbed a loose ball in the scrum and one-touched it past the posts, Greg Piechota, who was posted on the inside of the box, grabbed a feed from Mariano to one-touch in the Toros first and tie the game at 1-1.

The Spartans took their second lead of the night as Warren once again took a shot collected from a deflected free kick for UT's second at 28:58.

It was head coach Joe Flanagan's half-time talk that ultimately changed the course of the night for the Toros. "We need to go after all our chances and keep on firing away. We played well in the first but we need to finish it in the second", was part of the observation Flanagan conveyed to the team at the half.

No doubt feeling the pressure CSUDH responded 41 seconds into the second half to once again tie the game a second time. Jordan Rover, taking a feed from Chris Perkins took a hard shot from the top for the Toros second goal of the game.

With regulation time ending the Toros looked to the first overtime to exact revenge on UT, going back to 2001 when the Spartans defeated them for the NCAA National Title.

"I gotta take my chance, it was kinda late but I adjusted and got to the ball first", says Mariano of his goal at 94:23, which came off another Perkins feed.

Ultimately it was the Toros hard-nosed offense and unforgiving defense that gave them their win. Outshooting Tampa 27-16 and taking 6 corners, while Tampa took none, Rover feels that it was the Toro spirit that won the game: "Tampa put up a good fight with their hard hitting offense but we wanted it more than they did and got it", he says of the win.

Now boasting a 18-2-4 record, CSUDH will face Dowling College (New York) who carries a 18-3-0 record in the NCAA Championship Final game this Sunday at 10:30 am Pacific. "Dowling has similarities to Tampa so it is going to be another good game. But right now we are happy to be here", says Flanagan as he looks towards another title.

With Toro spirit running high throughout the team they have all taken time to reflect on what has brought them this far in the season, one they have dedicated to former Toro soccer player J.T. Minami who passed away earlier this year. "J.T. is someone you hear stories about. His work ethic, attitude towards life, we all model ourselves after him and the person he was", reflects Mariano after the game as the Toros will now look to honor him with their second trophy.

Sunday's game will not only be broadcasted in live video and stats online, you may also watch on national television. Channel listings are: DirecTV - 613, DISH Network - 152, Time Warner (Long Beach area) - 261 and COX Communication (South Bay) - 321). The game is broadcasted through CBS College Sports Network for those in other areas.