Growing pains: CSUDH Waves Goodbye to a Forgetful Season

#51 Forward Alicia Covarrubias celebrates a goal with her teammates. Photo by Javier Perez

By Raymond Castillo, Staff Reporter

The California State University, Dominguez Hills women’s soccer, team capped off a disappointing 2022 campaign with an 8-0 loss to California State University, Monterey Bay. The Toros were shutout for an 11th time this season.

The season finish of 1-13-4 (1-8-2 in CCAA play) leaves the Toros in 11th place out of 12 total teams in the California Collegiate Athletics Association, in front of winless California State University, East Bay. Overall, they ranked last in goals scored (9), goals allowed (38), assists (7), average margin of difference in the score (-1.61), save percentage (.712), and shutouts (2).

Long story short, this season was one to forget for head coach Marine Cano and his Toro squad. 

The season was a tough one from the beginning when they started out 0-4-2 and were outscored 13-3 in their first six matches. As the season wore on, the Toros never got going, they were shutout for one-third straight of their 18 game season and allowed seven goals during that span.

The Toros finally broke through against Stanislaus State, and used the momentum to catapult their way to their lone victory game against CSU East Bay. A late game mistake by the Pioneers allowed the Toros to capitalize and send the eight seniors off with a win in their final home game.

Next season looks to be much better as 19 players are set to return to the squad including midfielder/forward Sarah Martinez who was tied for second on the team in goals, assists, and points.

The 2022 season’s finish is the ninth time out of the last 10 seasons in which the Toros failed to finish .500. A lot of work is in store for the program as they look to find its competitive form and head back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.