You could almost hear teeth gnashing. That’s how frustrating the looming tie was for the Chico State faithful who had sweated out (literally and figuratively) the first 88 minutes of the Wildcats’ season-opening match against Western Washington.
The Wildcats vastly outplayed a highly-touted Western Washington team throughout the first 88 minutes of the match, garnering a 15-2 advantage in shots, only to watch Vikings goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs deny strong chances time after time.
Following a season in which the Wildcats set the Division II record with nine ties, starting this campaign with one was almost too much to bear. That was before the frustration reached its peak. By the end, everyone affiliated with Chico State would have been glad to go home with a draw.
A frantic 54 seconds followed featuring goals by Western Washington’s Joana Houplin and Wildcats true freshman Carly Singer to send the game into extra time where the Vikings’ Morgan Claire headed home the golden goal in the sixth minute of the second overtime period.
Arthurs finished with 10 saves, many that seemed destined for the back of the net, and another ball was saved off the line by a Vikings defender.
Ashley Perlman was twice victimized by Arthurs’ brilliant saves, Lisa Webster was twice turned away with only Arthurs to beat, and Molly Downtain saw a ball ticketed for the upper-V deflected wide as Arthurs appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
The final stats showed the Wildcats with a 20-6 advantage in shots and 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Western Washington did not take its first shot until early in the second half. But the Vikings’ third shot, a chip to the far post by Houplin, found the back of the net with only 1:40 to play. Claire won a 50-50 ball near the top of the box, chipped a pass wide that fell to Houplin on a hop, and she snuck it to the near post past Chico State true freshman keeper Sydney Oliver.
Singer equalized 54 seconds later on a restart from 30 yards out for her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate contest, knocking a looping liner high into the net at the far post with just 46 seconds to play.
Perlman, who led all players with four shots, nearly won it for the Wildcats in the first overtime. But Arthurs ticked her shot, ticketed for the top of the net, off the top of the crossbar.
Claire ended the match in the 106th minute, set up by a beautiful cross off the foot of Megan Chapin. Morgan simply elevated at the back post and directed it home.
Chico State is back in action Saturday when it hosts Central Washington University at 5 PM.
BOX SCORE
