Myriah Johnson did not start the game for the Gators, but she finished twice to give the women a 2-0 win over CSU Dominguez Hills and 2-0 record in the conference.

“It’s more exciting to win, to contribute to the win,” Johnson about scoring two goals.

Myriah “Magic” Johnson (Carly Bliss provided the name) gave the Gators the lead in the first half on a goalie mistake.

The cross from Zoila Marquez was partially blocked and Torros keeper Alyssa Congdon went to secure the ball. The ball took an SF State bounce right over the keeper’s head.

The keeper dove backwards and Johnson did not give her a second chance at the save. She slid in and scored and knocked her in the head.

“It changed the game,” Robin Bowman said about having the early lead. “After that we were on the attack. If they had the ball we were still on the attack because we had the lead.”

Congdon was injured on the play. Johnson said she does not remember what happened to the keeper, that she has very little memory of the play.

“The first half was not pretty, but at least we got it done,” Morgan Davison said.

In the first half SF State was not winning the air game or the loose balls as they are accustomed to.

“When the defense gets panicked the whole team falls apart,” assistant coach Mary Trigg said. “When we stand them up and calm it down we’re great.”

In the first half we put on a clinic of what not to do.”

The team struggled in the first half because of nerves Trigg said. The team wants to win so bad that the over excitement can get in the way of their technique.

“We were off balance,” Courtney Hamchuk said. “They’re a very pushy, bitchy team. They will hit as hard as they can.”

They’re the most physical team [so far this season]. That’s not our style, we keep control of the ball. If we have to play physical we will.”

The score could have been 3-1 Dominguez Hills Trigg said. Lauren Candia made a huge defensive save, Rachel punched out corner kicks and even the post was on SF State’s side contributing with a save.

“It’s huge, the talk at half time [about what needed work on], but the coaches said ‘Guys we’re winning,” Trigg said. “We were playing bad and still winning.”

In the second half the purple and gold showed their true colors. The team won in the air and sucked up the loose balls.

SF State put more pressure on the Torros with Johnson sinking her second goal of the game. Hamchuk made a beautiful cross and Johnson did the easy part she said smashing the volley past the keeper.

This game was the first time Johnson has played left midfielder in college and she said she liked it. As a forward she said she tends to over run the ball, but at midfielder she waited for opportunity strike.

“I really like her out there,” Davison said. “She has composure, foot skills and still thinks offensively, but gets back [on defense].”

The Gators are 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and have six points after only two games. They are 3-2-1 overall.

“I’ve been here four years and we’ve never won two South Conference games in a full weekend getting six points,” Hamchuk said.

Busting out of the gates gives the Gators a phenomenal start of their goal of CCAA playoffs.
“It’s great because it’s harder to work your way up in Division II,” Hamchuk said. “It’s cut throat and you never know how teams will perform.”

They hit the road for their first away CCAA game of the season Friday, Sept. 19 against the school’s rival team Sonoma State.

The rivalry is just not with the fans in this case. Davison said last years match up nearly went to blows.