Sonoma State claimed its first men's soccer championship with a 4-3 victory over Southern New Hampshire in the final match of the Division II Men's Soccer Championship on December 8 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Sonoma State, which lost in the 1991 title game, finished the year with a record of 19-3-1, while Southern New Hampshire, seeking its second national title, completed a 20-3-1 slate. Sonoma State's victory stopped Southern New Hampshire's 16-game unbeaten streak and 11-game winning streak.

Southern New Hampshire opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Mounir Tajiou intercepted a clearing pass in the Sonoma State box and sent a pass to junior Anthony Augustine, whose shot eluded Sonoma State goalkeeper Matt Bernard.

The Seawolves evened the score in the 34th minute when sophomore Brandon Boone collected a loose ball in the Southern New Hampshire box and sent a high shot past Adam Spinelli from 15 yards out.

The Penmen answered 36 seconds later when Tajiou headed home a long free kick from Clint Borrill.

"On a ball like that, all you are trying to do is head the ball toward the goal," said Tajiou, who finished the season with 24 goals. "I felt that I got a good hit on it, but I did not know where it went until I turned around and saw there was no way he (Bernard) could reach it."

The Seawolves tied the match again just 3:25 into the second half when Boone pounced on a bad clearing attempt by a Southern New Hampshire defender and nailed a shot into the lower left corner of the net.

The game was tied with just over 16 minutes to play when Sonoma State quickly scored two goals in about two minutes to take a 4-2 lead.

Sophomore Michael Nathan broke the 2-2 tie for the Seawolves at 73:48 on a play that was started by a throw-in from junior Chris Giuliacci. Nathan took the ball from a crowd of players in front of the Southern New Hampshire net and slammed it in past Spinelli from six yards out.

The Seawolves quickly scored again with only 15 minutes left to play when freshman Tim Maycock beat two defenders and passed to Tony Bussard, who delivered the goal. Bussard, named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player, scored his ninth goal on the year.

Two Southern New Hampshire players were ejected for fighting in front of Sonoma State's goal with less than 10 minutes left to play. As a result, the Penmen played two short for the remainder of the game.

However, a bit earlier, the Penmen had threatened to take control of the game. Southern New Hampshire nearly took a 3-2 lead with 17 minutes to play when Tajiou worked the ball along the Sonoma State end line and slid a pass to midfielder Romelle Burgess in the box, but Burgess' low shot from 12 yards out was saved by Bernard.

Sonoma State's decisive goals came less than two minutes after Burgess' chance.

Burgess scored with less than 10 seconds to play to account for the final score.

Sonoma State's Bussard, Boone, Bernard and Ryan Smith were named to the all-tournament team. Bernard was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player.

Tajiou, Burgess, Augustine and senior Matt Kagan, who scored both Southern New Hampshire goals in its semifinal win over Mercyhurst, also were named to the all-tournament team.

Rounding out the team were Oliver Woodward of Mercyhurst and Dustin McNaughton and Danny George of Central Arkansas.

Semifinals

First half: M -- Brian Jungeberg (Shawn Burke), 43:41; SNH -- Matt Kagan (Mounir Tajiou, Mike Savastral), 44:09.

Second half: SNH -- Kagan (Robby Vanrykel, Savastral), 65:23.

Shots: Mercyhurst 3, So. New Hampshire 5. Goalkeeper saves: Mercyhurst (Marty Ruberry) 1; So. New Hampshire (Adam Spinelli) 2. Corner kicks: Mercyhurst 3, So. New Hampshire 1. Fouls: Mercyhurst 20, S. New Hampshire 12.

First half: CA -- Jason Bell (Cameron Kersey), 38:30.

Second half: SS -- Alex Doran (unassisted), 51:44.

Overtime: SS -- Brandon Boone (Tony Bussard), 103:24.

Shots: Sonoma St. 13, Central Ark. 11. Goalkeeper saves: Sonoma St. (Matt Bernard) 7; Central Ark. (Adam Woznicki) 5. Corner kicks: Sonoma St. 3, Central Ark. 1. Fouls: Sonoma St. 11, Central Ark. 12. Attendance 299.

Championship

First half: SNH -- Anthony Augustine (Mounir Tajiou), 14:24; SS -- Brian Coyne (Tim Maycock), 34:40; SNH -- Tajiou (Clint Borrill), 35:16.

Second half: SS -- Brandon Boone, 48:25; SS -- Tony Bussard (Maycock), 76:04; SNH -- Romelle Burgess (Matt Kagan), 89:52.

Shots: Sonoma St. 16, So. New Hampshire 12. Goalkeeper saves: Sonoma State (Matt Bernard 1, Steve Christensen 1). So. New Hampshire (Adam Spinelli) 3. Corner kicks: Sonoma St. 2, So. New Hampshire 3. Fouls: Sonoma St. 22, So. New Hampshire 21.