Warriors are in CCAA tournament with win over Chico State

TURLOCK -- Taking care of business themselve, the Warriors made a statement that they want to be playing in the conference tournament next weekend with a 4-0 beating of Chico State on senior night Saturday.

With the victory, the Cal State Stanislaus women's soccer team clinches the fourth and final berth of next weekend's CCAA Soccer Championships. The tournament is to be played, Nov. 5-7, at Warrior Stadium.

Karenee Demery scored her 18th goal of the year early and the Warriors rolled off to a convincing win that finally sealed the deal. Cal State Stanislaus has qualified for the CCAA tournament for the second time in team history, the first since 2005.

Marissa Dunaway scored twice and Shelby Cargile added another goal in a very strong offensive attack by the Warriors side.

"Tonight was a playoff game and it really brought out the best in us. We played attractive attacking soccer and we were very organized defensively," CSUS head coach Gabriel Bolton said.

The CCAA tournament field is set after the Stanislaus win as the Warriors will join San Francisco State, Cal State L.A. and UC San Diego. The Warriors are guaranteed to play the 7 p.m. Friday night match against either Cal State L.A. or UC San Diego.

Entering the week, the Warriors needed a win to clinch the spot and eliminate Cal State Dominguez Hills, the only team that could have catch-up to the Warriors in the points standings.

Demery got the Warriors on the board early, at 6:23, on a beautiful goal to the near post. Alisa Barlow sent a nice pass to Alexia Poon, who found Demery as she ran past two defenders.

Dunaway then gave Stanislaus a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute on a free kick score from 20 yards out.

In the second half, the Warriors would add two scores within two minutes to put the game away. Cargile scored in the 66th minute after Liz Scherrer tipped a Emily Relles throw in to Cargile. Dunaway then scored her second goal of the night at 67:44, finishing off her own rebound after getting the ball from Cargile.

"I'm so proud of this team. I'm never seen a group overcome more adversity in a season," Bolton added. "It is a real tribute to our senior leadership and their character as women."

Cal State Stanislaus finishes the regular season 12-5-1 overall and 10-5-1 in the CCAA. The Warriors were also 8-2 in matches played at Warrior Stadium in 2010.

The last time the Warriors qualified for the conference tournament was in 2005. That year the tournament was also held here in Turlock.