ROHNERT PARK – Senior Katie Forba, in the last match of her collegiate career, scored the Humboldt State women's soccer team's lone goal in a 2-1 loss at Sonoma State on Sunday. 

The loss ends HSU's season with an 8-9-3 overall record, 5-8-3 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.  SSU also finishes the season at 8-9-3 and 6-7-3 in the conference.  Neither side will be competing in the conference championship playoffs.

The sides traded shots in the opening minutes of the match.  Then, at the 12:11 mark the Seawolves struck.  Kiley Brown scored off a corner kick to give Sonoma State a 1-0 lead.

Just over three minutes later, at the 15:25 mark the Jacks got the equalizer. Gracie Gartrell played a perfect through ball onto the foot of Forba who had gotten behind the Seawolves defense.  One-on-one against keeper Alexis Sciacqua, Forba placed the ball under her to the far side of the net from 12 yards out.

“That was probably one of the better goals we have had this year,” head coach Christian Johnson said.

The score remained the same for the next 30 minutes with each side having opportunities, but unable to find the back of the net.

With just 10 seconds remaining in the half, Sonoma State took a free kick and in the scrum that resulted in front of the goal, Katie Parucha knocked home what would turnout to be the game winner.

“Both the goals we gave up were disappointing,” Johnson said. “On the first, our keeper was pulled down by the opponent allowing the goal to score.  On the second, the free kick was played before we were set up and before the referee had blown the whistle to begin play.  We were still in the process of setting our wall up when the play went off.  That both situation happened and were allowed to stand was very disappointing”

Despite the adversity, in the second half, the Jacks ratcheted the pressure on the Seawolves, outshooting them 9-3.  Sciacqua had to make four saves to preserve the SSU lead and in perhaps HSU's best chance to score Kim Carroll had a header go off the crossbar in the 73rd minute.

“We played really well, despite the obstacles that were placed in front of us today,” Johnson said.  “We left everything we had out on that field and I am really proud of the way we played today and all season.  We have nothing to hang our heads about especially since the goals we gave up really weren't decided by the players on the field.”

Forba, Allison Lawrence and Megan Kobler all played in their final matches as Humboldt State women's soccer team members.


Humboldt State (8-9-3, 5-8-3 CCAA) vs. Sonoma State (8-9-3, 6-7-3 CCAA)
Date: Nov 01, 2009 Attendance: 199
Weather: 72 degrees F, sunny, 2 mph NNW winds
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Humboldt State...... 1 0 - 1
Sonoma State........ 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 12:11 SSU BROWN, Kiley (2) (CATTON, Lindsay) - off corner kick
2. 15:25 HSU FORBA, Katie (4) (GARTRELL, Gracie) - passed upfield to #4 running in behind defense, 1
3. 44:50 SSU PARUCHA, Katie (3) (CATTON, Lindsay) - off free kick and after scrum in the box
Shots: Humboldt State 15, Sonoma State 8
Saves: Humboldt State 1 (SANDBERG, Kelly 1), Sonoma State 5 (SCIACQUA,
Alexis 5)