(Sacramento, CA) With the Mt. SAC Men's Soccer team trying to win its seventh CCCAA State title, No. 1 South Seed Oxnard scored a late goal to upend the defending state champions, 2-1, on a rain-soaked field at American River College on Sunday (December 4).

The win was the second state title for Oxnard (22-1-1), which had never beaten the Mounties before Sunday.

Mt. SAC, which was appearing in its 11th state title game, finished with a 17-7-2 record.

Oxnard was led by sophomore forward Odin Rosten (2 goals), who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute to lead, 1-0.

Receiving a pass just inside the Mt. SAC half, Rosten found room to move the ball forward and took a shot from just inside the penalty box into the upper left corner of the goal.

The Mounties' only goal came just before the first half ended in extra time, as freshman forward Hunter Devlin passed the ball in the middle to sophomore forward Edward Castro, who passed it up to sophomore midfielder Alex Mendez at the penalty box. Mendez was tripped up and scored the penalty kick to the left side of the goal.

Mendez, who finished tied for sixth in the state with 16 goals, scored four goals for the Mounties in the post-season.

The Mounties pressed Oxnard early in the second half with momentum from their late first-half goal, but their real opportunity came in the 76th minute.

Mt. SAC forced a turnover deep in the Oxnard end and sophomore forward Andrew Vazquez passed the ball to freshman forward Frank Gonzalez, who one-timed a shot that was turned away by the Oxnard goalie.

The go-ahead goal came from Rosten in the 87th minute, as he split two Mountie defenders, got by a third defender and shot into the bottom corner of the goal for the 2-1 win.

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.