Nayah Pola celebrates with her teammates after winning the 2023 CCAA Tournament. Photo by Chris Perry Courtesy of CSUDH Athletics.
By Raymond Castillo, Sports Editor
112 total program wins and counting, 6 postseason wins and more to come, one Men’s Soccer Super Region 4 championship, and of course, everyone’s favorite, one NCAA Women’s West Regional championship and a trip to the Elite 8. All of this has been accomplished in one academic year for California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Athletics.
While the juggernaut Toro softball team secured its first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference tournament championship in program history and has another round of playoffs with the potential for their first-ever National Championship. They look to join the ranks of the 1991-92 Women’s Soccer and 2000-01 and 2008-09 Men’s Soccer teams as the only National Championship teams in CSUDH athletics history.
Under new athletic director, Eric McCurdy and with the help of CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. William Franklin, the department has completely revamped its culture and outlook.
“The first 100 days, I did what is called ‘the three L’s’. I looked, listened, and learned,” said McCurdy.
McCurdy learned that the department has always had the potential to be great, but just needed a little bit of love.
“Our staff is outstanding. They do everything in their power to serve our athletes and strive to make their experience at CSUDH the best it can be,” said McCurdy.
With over 110,000 alumni and 60% of them living within 25 miles of campus, CSUDH athletics has felt and appreciated the increase in interest and engagement. Although they know they are just getting started, they hope to grow their relationship together.
The increase in interest was well deserved as the Toros yielded stars and were well-decorated all over the playing surfaces this year.
According to CSUDH Athletics, Angel Sayama:
Women’s Soccer:
Alyssa Newsom awarded CCAA Player of the Week
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Men’s Soccer:
Finished with 15 wins and 5 ties
Coach Eddie Soto was awarded Coach of the Year
Ranked top 5 in the United Soccer Coaches since 2008
4 All-CCAA Honorable Mention (Sebastian Ascencio, Nick Walker, Martin Velasquez, Martin Velasquez)
2 All-CCAA Second Team (Zane Bumgardt, Michael McKibbin)
1 First team All-American (Suliman Bah)
1 First-Team All-CCAA (Suliman Bah)
Suliman Bah was named CCAA Player of The Week 5 Times
Suliman Bah was named CCAA Offensive Player of the Year
1 West Region Player of the Year (Suliman Bah)
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Volleyball:
1 All-CCAA Honorable Mention (Ava Hurry)
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Women’s Basketball
Finished with 31 wins, 21 in conference
CCAA regular season champions
Coach John Bonner was awarded Coach of the Year
Qualified for the CCAA Tournament
Qualified for the DII West Region Tournament; West Region Champions
Qualified for the Elite Eight
Dawnyel Lair was awarded CCAA Player of the Week four times
Dawnyel Lair was awarded CCAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, DII CCA First-Team All-Region Honor, WBCA First-Team All-American
Nala Williams was named CCAA Freshman of the Year; Second Team All-CCAA
2 First-team All-CCAA (Asia Jordan, Dawnyel Lair)
Dawnyel Lair was named to Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-American team
2 All-CCAA Honorable Mention (Joe’l Benoit, Danyell Booker)
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Men’s Basketball
Finished with 12 wins
1 All-CCAA second team (DJ Guest)
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Softball
Finished with 30 wins, 19 in conference play
Placed 4th overall in conference
Qualified for the CCAA tournament
All-CCAA Players
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Men’s Golf
Finished the CCAA Championship in 8th place
Andy Yoon qualifies for NCAA West Regional
Selected to the Cardinal & Gold Academic Fall Honor Roll
Baseball
23-27 Overall record, 18-22 CCAA record
All conference team members
Six CCAA Players of the week (Anthony Accordino, Vincent Temesvary, Nico Martinez, Aaron Greenfield, Julian Diaz, and Eric Smelko)
Nico Martinez threw a No-hitter against New Mexico Highlands University
Julian Diaz named NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week
The Toros athletics department led by Eric McCurdy has started a new day in CSUDH history. Brick by brick they are building a foundation of academic and athletic excellence.
