ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Busch (Santa Cruz HS) saved the finest performance of her collegiate career for last. Busch made a career–high 13 saves and Melissa Wilson's (Campolindo HS) spot kick in the 107th minute lifted Cal State Monterey Bay to a 1–0 win over No. 24 Sonoma State Saturday afternoon at the Seawolf Soccer Field.

The victory leaves CSUMB's final 2018 record at 7–7–4 and 4–6–2 in the CCAA. The Otters finish the season in seventh place (taking the tiebreaker from Stanislaus State) to match their best CCAA finish ever (2012).

The match played out just like the David versus Goliath contest it shaped up to be entering the day. The Seawolves came at the Otters in waves, out–shooting them 20–7 in regulation and 27–8 through the first 106 minutes.

But Busch answered every question asked of her by the Sonoma strikeforce, keeping the Otters afloat until the waning moments of overtime, when the match turned in one glorious moment.

Fittingly, Busch started the play that led to the penalty. After defending a Sonoma corner, Busch threw a long outlet to Isabel Madrid (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley HS). Madrid played a through ball to Allexxis Hand (Hacienda Heights/Los Altos HS) whose drive into the box forced a Sonoma defender to take her down in the area.

From there, all that was left was for Wilson to convert calmly from the spot.
 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Melissa Wilson converted from the spot in the 107th minute.

BUSCH'S BEST… Stephanie Busch made a career–high 13 saves in her final collegiate match. That mark ranks No. 2 in the Otter record book behind the 14 saves Victoria Whyte made versus UC San Diego on Oct. 9, 2016.

THE CENTURY CLUB… With 13 saves Saturday at Sonoma, Stephanie Busch became just the fourth goalkeeper in Otter history to record 100+ saves in a season (101). She is the first to do it since Erika Ulfelder set the CSUMB record with 117 saves in 2006.

KEEP IT CLEAN… Stephanie Busch extended her CSUMB single–season record for shutouts one final time with her eighth Saturday at Sonoma.

SPOT ON… Melissa Wilson's penalty kick was the first for the Otters in 2018. It was the first for the Otters since Hannah Kind converted from the spot against Cal State L.A. on Oct. 6, 2017.

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT… Here are a few talking points for Otter fans heading into the 2019 season: The seven wins posted by CSUMB equal their second most since moving to the NCAA level in 2004 (8 in 2012)…By amassing 24 points in overall play, the 2018 Otters matched the 2012 squad for most points in a single season at the NCAA level (24)…the Otters will return 26 of the 32 players from this season roster in 2019.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… GOALS: Melissa Wilson 1; ASSISTS: None; POINTS: Melissa Wilson 2; SHOTS: Jasmine Safarians 3; SAVES: Stephanie Busch 13.

THE LAST WORD… "It was a gritty, full team effort today. There were no individuals on the field. Instead we were a hard–working, cohesive group.  We did a great job of executing our game plan and it paid off. The hard work put in today really showed what the season meant to these players. I couldn't be prouder." – CSUMB Head Coach Laura VanWart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… Saturday's 1–0 win at Sonoma State put a lid on the 2018 CSUMB women's soccer season (7–7–3, 4–6–2 CCAA).