The Dixie Sun

Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Zach Vu Sophomore Kelsey Tesoro, a general education major from Las Vegas, tries to gain possession from sophomore Carlan Samuelson, a pre-nursing major from Farmington. The Lady Red Storm's season ended Friday with a 1-4 loss to California State University, Dominguez Hills.

The Cinderella story ended for the Dixie State College women's soccer team Friday as it was defeated 4-1 by California State University, Dominguez Hills in the NCAA Tournament.

The game in Los Angeles was the first ever trip for the Red Storm to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

"I think we let our nerves get the best of us," said senior midfielder Mikala Wilkes, an accounting major from Cedar Hills. "We had a few mistakes, which [CSUDH] capitalized on and made the difference in the game. I think if we played with more confidence and relaxed a little more it would have helped us out."

Senior midfielder Carly Haycock scored the lone goal for DSC (14-5) in the 13th minute, which tied the game with the Toros of CSUDH. Wilkes, who won player of the year honors in the Pacific West Conference, and sophomore midfielder Jordyn Hutchinson set up the goal. Wilkes crossed the ball to Hutchinson, and she centered the ball for Haycock to kick it in.

The Toros pulled away in the closing minutes of the first half with two goals. Jessica Murphy and Makenzi Pedrotti of CSUDH were the two players to score the goals. Brooke Thompson added the final goal for the Toros with twenty minutes remaining in the game.

"We just had a bad game," head coach Linda Huddleston said. "We made mistakes, and [CSUDH] hopped all over those mistakes."

Huddleston said there were several players with injuries, and those nagging injuries finally caught up with them. She also said winning the conference championship was the No. 1 goal for the team, although she wanted to represent the PacWest Conference better in the playoffs. DSC was the only representative from the PacWest to play in the tournament.

The Toros would go on to upset top seeded California State University Los Angeles on Sunday 2-1. CSUDH will face the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, Calif., Friday. The Tritons of UCSD trounced the Red Storm 5-1 on Sept. 5.

"We had a good season," Wilkes said. "But I think we were certainly disappointed that we didn't make it further in the playoffs. As a program I think we made some big strides for the future. We had a goal to take first in conference, and we accomplished that."

Wilkes also said she was honored to be able to represent the school and the team by winning PacWest player of the year.

"I think [the award] reflects more on my team's success than my own," she said. "I wouldn't have received it without them."

With Wilkes graduating Huddleston said she would miss her leading goal scorer.

"[Wilkes is] probably the best player to come through [DSC]," Huddleston said. "The award was well deserved. She's a great student and a great player. I can't imagine playing without her."

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