Box Score The dream of reaching its first NCAA national championship game came to an end for Rockhurst Thursday night in Pensacola, Florida. The fifth-ranked Hawks fell to 17th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona, 1-0, in the NCAA Division II national semifinals at Ashton Brosnaham Sports Complex.
Cal Poly Pomona scored the winning goal in the 84th minute on a shot in front of the goal by Alexander Turkson off a corner kick. The Broncos (17-2-3) will face No. 1 ranked Pfeiffer (24-0) for the Division II national championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Pensacola. Rockhurst ends the season with an 18-2-3 record.Pomona outshot the Hawks, 13-9. Adam Michael and Claudio Romano led the Hawks with two shots apiece. Rockhurst had four shots in the first half and five shots in the second half. Rockhurst's best shot at scoring was a Mitch Moncada shot that was stopped by the Cal Poly keeper in the 50th minute.
Rockhurst keeper Logan Feldmann made six saves, while Pomona keeper Fernando Pablo Quevedo stopped four Rockhurst shots.
Rockhurst Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Tony Tocco
Opening Statement:
"Congratulations to Cal Poly, they played very very well. They did a great job against us tonight. Our players gave what they had tonight. I hated to see it end on this note for one reason. I think we're a better team than what we showed but maybe Cal Poly had a lot to do with that."
On his team's effort tonight:
"I think there's two pieces to that. I think our effort was good, our execution was not very good and that's the other part of the game. I think we gave a great effort in how we played the game but our execution was not what we had been doing throughout the season. I never question my players playing hard, but the other part of the game, I don't think we did very very well."
Associate Head Coach Giorgio Antongirolami
On his team's effort:
"It is tough for them to out beat us. They know that they could have done better. They know in themselves so we feel more worse for them than ourselves. We know they could have played a better game, but as Coach (Tony Tocco) said, I think (Cal Poly) Pomona had a great game stategy. They were able to apply it right and then we were able to do it a little better in the second half but it's not enough to beat them. In the end of the day we didn't deserve the victory, they didn't steal anything."
Senior defender Nick Caruso
On his team's effort:
"Congratulations to Cal Poly. At the end of the day, it wasn't good enough, what we brought. Like Coach Tocco and Giorgio (Antongirolami) said our effort was there, our execution wasn't."
On the team's season:
"Tough to say now but it was a hell of an accomplishment to get to this point. As we said in the lockerroom, nobody really expected us to be here. We proved a lot of people wrong and I think we proved a lot of things to ourselves."
Junior defender Paul Dean
On his team's effort:
"Congratulations to Cal Poly. To win games, you need to play a full 90, in the second half I think we picked it up, but like Coach Tocco said, we needed to execute, but one thing I think we can all agree on is we left it all out on the field at the end of the day."
On the team's season:
"The season was incredible. Of course you hate to go out like this, especially if you're a senior like Nick (Caruso), we all wanted to win it for him really bad. As a season as a whole, I think everyone's pleased and for the guys coming back, we're just motivated to get back here. I think we left it all out there on the table. At the end of the day, we can keep our heads up because of that."
Cal Poly Pomona Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Yossi Raz:
"We are very excited. We just got off the field after probably the biggest win in program history. We made it this far, representing a great university and unbelievable athletic department, a fantastic conference and a great community. We're very excited that we're able to perform well and prevail against a very good Rockhurst team."
"Rockhurst is a very disciplined team. They had six shutouts in a row before their regional final, they're very tough to break."
"We tried to play with more numbers going forward. We played our style and we played theirs. They had some opportunities to win it and so did they. Ultimately the players make the plays in the game. We, as coaches, try to put them in a place in which they can be comfortable."
Senior goalkeeper Fernando Pablo Quevado:
"It's very emotional to see how many people are behind us and supporting us. When we're on the field we always remember them. They have a very important role. The whole school, this is for them."
Senior midfielder Alexander Turkson:
"As an attacking minded player, it's about keeping your feet moving and being alert. I was in the right place at the right time. I'm proud of our teammates for staying disciplined and focused through the end of the match."
"I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful program. They've handed us a brilliant opportunity. We've worked hard and taken our chances. It's paying off for us, and we're really happy."
