Box Score #13-ranked Cal State San Marcos women's soccer got off to a very strong start to their post-season on Friday, defeating Embry-Riddle 2-0 to advance to the A.I.I. Conference Tournament Finals on Saturday.
 
The win improves CSUSM to 14-3-1 on the year.  Embry-Riddle (AZ) finishes its season at 6-9-3.  The A.I.I. Tournament is taking place in Thomasville, GA.
 
For the top-seeded Cougars and Coach Ron Pulvers, the team's form for the match was a welcome sight.  After a bit of a rocky end to the year, the Cougars came out focused and dominated for the full 90 minutes on Friday.
 
After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless action, CSUSM got the breakthrough at the 29:49 mark, as Lauren Misklevitz tallied her third goal of the season with an assist from Shelby Bush.  Bush, who was great throughout the match, fed Misklevitz a shot at the edge of 18, and she was able to beat the keeper.
 
Bush herself added the game-clincher in the 58^th minute, heading in a cross from Amy Alber to make it 2-0 Cougars.
 
Alber was part of a CSUSM back line that was terrific on the day, with Nicole Luna, Chelsea Porter, and Shannon Cox completely shutting down Embry-Riddle's offense.
 
The Cougars will await the winner of this afternoon's match between host school Thomas (GA) and Marygrove (MI).  The winner of tomorrow's final will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship.