March 6, 2000 - In the 1999 National Championship semifinals, #2 Sonoma State lost 11-12 to #3 Colorado State (eventual champion) in what was the most exciting game of the tournament. On Saturday, the much anticipated rematch was equally exciting.

Colorado State, currently ranked #1, made a visit to Rohnert Park to play #2 Sonoma State in a highly anticipated battle of USLIA giants. Unfortunately, Mother Nature failed to cooperate as the rain started to fall at halftime, soaking an already-saturated field that was in disrepair from SSU's game against Michigan on Tuesday.

Aside from the weather and field conditions, the game was far from disappointing as a record-settingcrowd watched the Cossacks and Rams fight a back and forth contest for the #1 ranking in the USLIA. After nearly six minutes of scoreless action, CSU's Mike Roth opened up with two back-to-back goals 5:45 into the first quarter and then again :19 seconds later. SSU then took a lead with three unanswered goals by midfielders Ben Alexander, Will Burson, and M.J. Crickmore before CSU's Mike Napolilli tied it up 3-3 at the end of the quarter.

SSU was able to take advantage of a couple fast break goals by attackmen Brett Flynn and Ryan Horn to take an early 5-3 lead in the second quarter. After another six minutes of scoreless action, Roth was able to bring the Rams within one with 5:33 before halftime. Alexander rounded out the second quarter action with an unassisted goal 1:39 before the whistle, giving the Cossacks a 6-4 advantage at half.

CSU exploded out of the halftime break with a goal by Ryan Ferrin :15 seconds into the third quarter and another by Jared Katz two minutes later, tying the game for the third time at 6-6. The Cossacks answered with another three-goal run sparked by the play of Crickmore and Horn sending the score to 9-6 before CSU came back. The Rams and Cossacks traded goals 3 for 1 to end the third quarter 10-9 in favor of SSU.

SSU stretched its lead to three once again as Horn and Burson scored two quick goals in the fourth, however, the rest of the quarter belonged to the Rams. Down 9-12, Colorado State methodically attacked the goal on offense and pressured the ball on defense. With 4:48 left on the clock, CSU tied the game for the fourth time at 12-12.

Now drenched from a steady downpour, the hundreds of fans that packed the sideline began to chant "defense" as the tide appeared to turn against the hometown team. The Cossacks responded by making a key stop and successfully clearing to CSU's half. On the ensuing offensive possession, Jason Wollert fed Horn for his fifth goal of the game with 2:31 left on the clock. CSU's superb drawman, Pat Lambert, controlled the subsequent face-off and the Rams peppered the SSU goal in a desperate attempt to take the game into overtime. The ball never left SSU's defensive half of the field for the final 2:30 but the Cossack defense was able to hold off the Ram attack. The fans and SSU benched emptied onto the field in celebration as the game-ending whistle blew and the SSU Cossacks defeated the CSU Rams 13-12 in a game that lived up to expectations.

The game ball was awarded to Ryan Horn who finished with 5 goals and 2 assists. Before the game, Coach Hughes challenged the team's great players to be great in an important game. While the entire team earned the important victory, no one answered the challenge more convincingly than Ryan.