ARCATA — Another strong Humboldt State effort against a high-ranked opponent went for naught Sunday, resulting in a 2-1 loss to Cal State Dominguez HIlls in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game.

The victory improved the No. 25 ranked Toros to 10-1 overall and 5-1-2 in the CCAA. Humboldt State fell to 3-10-2 and 1-8-0 in league.

The fierce battle, one of Humboldt State's most impressive outings of the season, saw 14 shots fired by the Toros and 12 by the Lumberjacks. Humboldt State goalkeeper Michela Hernandez accumulated four saves, and the Toros' Alyssa Congden gather five balls.

"Today was one of our better performances," Humboldt State head coach Andy Cumbo said. "It was an evenly played game. We made a couple of mistakes in the back, and they made us pay for them. That's what good teams do."

While not tested often during the opening half, both team's keeper did experience anxious moments. Humboldt State had perhaps the best two opportunities, the first a hard drive from Kim Carroll that CSUDH's Alyssa Condgen gather at the waist, and the second a long shot by Elissa WHite that narrowly missed dipping under the crossbar.

The halftime numbers reflected the balance effort, the Toros attempting eight shots to Humboldt State's six,  and each keeper registering two saves by the break. On the board, the struggle was evident in the 0-0 score.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, a misplayed ball accounted for a breakaway and the first score. Yvonne Vasquez stepped in front of the missed pass, dribbling ahead of two defenders for the point-blank shot and goal.

Likewise, another breakdown on the HSU defense allowed Vasquez to sprint ahead. After collecting the ball, she dribbled in for a hard shot that rocketed past Hernandez to make the score 2-0 at the  74:32 mark.

The game turned physical resulting in a free kick and penalty kick on consecutive plays. Following the missed free kick opportunity, Condgen knocked HSU's Erin Ashdown to the ground, and Kelsey Gomula drove home the ensuing penalty kick to cut the lead in half with 5:19 remaining to be played.

Humboldt State heads out on the road this week for league games against Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus.

 CSU Dominguez Hills (10-1-3, 5-1-2) vs. Humboldt State (3-10-2, 1-8-0)
 Date: Oct 07, 2007  Attendance: 125
 Weather: sunny

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 CSU Dominguez Hills.  0  2 -  2
 Humboldt State......  0  1 -  1

 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  58:01 CSUDH VASQUEZ, Yvonne (unassisted) - breakaway off of turnover
  2.  74:32 CSUDH VASQUEZ, Yvonne (McKAY, Cassie;CASTRO, Monique) - through ball, beat on rushing keeper
  3.  84:41 HSU GOMULA, Kelsey Penalty kick

 Shots: CSU Dominguez Hills 14, Humboldt State 12
 Saves: CSU Dominguez Hills 5 (CONDGEN, Alyssa 5), Humboldt State 4
 (HERNANDEZ, Michela 4)