Box Score    |   Final Stats
 
SEATTLE – Charlie Dukes scored the lone goal in the 88th minute as Colorado Mesa blanked Cal State L.A. 1-0 to earn a place in the NCAA Division II soccer quarterfinals Saturday night at Interbay Stadium.
 
"I don't know necessarily if words can describe it," first-year coach Todd Padgett said of Mesa's victory and national semifinals berth. "It's a team that has worked so hard and to be perfectly honest we deserve it."
 
CMU broke the scoreless stalemate after switching play from the left to right side. Substitute midfielder Kevin Escobar took the ball in the box, dribbled toward the endline and crossed it low across the face of goal. Roy Abergil redirected the ball toward the far post. Dukes, who had come on with 30 minutes left, bundled it into the net from 4 yards at 87:44.
 
"It felt amazing. I haven't scored a lot of goals this season so having that one at obviously the quarterfinals is an amazing feeling," Dukes said of his third goal of the year. "I couldn't have done it without the guys. I was lucky enough to be the person to put it away."
 
The Mavericks (18-3-1) got a late winning goal for the second time in three days, having won the South Central Region championship over St. Edward's (Tx.) on a 74th minute score by Abergil.
 
Cal State L.A., which finished the season 15-4-2, had not allowed a goal in three previous tournament games. The Golden Eagles were the nation's leader in scoring defense, allowing only eight goals in the first 20 matches.
 
Their last-gasp for an equalizer came in the final minute. Halil Tozar's dipping drive from 18 yards went high. The Golden Eagles had won the West Region on Thursday, eliminating host Seattle Pacific in overtime by a 1-0 tally.
 
Colorado Mesa is making its first postseason appearance after starting the program in 2007. The Mavericks advance to the College Cup, to be played in Louisville on Dec. 4 against either Long Island Post or Charleston (WV). Those teams meet Sunday.
 
Although CSULA finished with a 23-12 advantage in shots and 4-0 in corner kicks, possession was evenly distributed and each of the six total goalkeeper saves were routine.
 
Each team was denied a goal by the goal frame. In the 70th minute Marvin Iskra of Cal State L.A. sent a curling 25-yard try against the right post. Iskra also cracked a shot just past the left post in the 81st minute.
 
"Unfortunately, we hit a post," said CSULA coach Chris Chamides. "I don't know if it was a game where there should have been a winner or a loser, but we're certainly disappointed to not be advancing."
 
The Mavericks nearly went in front in the game's first few minutes. An errant clearance in the 3rd minute allowed Mesa's Tim Hofer an unchallenged header from 8 yards. With the goal gaping, Hofer hit it firmly but against the left post and Stevie Palma's rebound attempt went high.
 
In the 61st minute CMU's Blake Carlson flicked on for Alan Hernandez, whose header skipped high over the bar from 6 yards.
 
Padgett likes his team's chances at the College Cup.
 
"We're 18-3-1 on the year. We've beaten seven, eight ranked teams in the country, so we're going to the Final Four expecting and thinking we're going to win it. Now whether that happens or not is yet to be seen, but this is a team capable of hoisting a trophy at the end, there's no doubt."