In a four year career at Chico State, Zach Bradford has provided Wildcat fans with plenty of impressive performances, but the senior from Beaverton, Ore. definitely saved his best for last, scoring two goals in last weekend’s NCAA West Regional and booting home the game-winner with 1:48 to play Sunday as the ’Cats toppled Grand Canyon University 2-1 to advance to this weekend’s national quarterfinals. Bradford’s heroics on the pitch make him an easy choice for Wildcat of the Week.
In Friday’s West Regional opener against Sonoma State, Bradford got the Wildcats rolling less than eight minutes into the contest, flicking home a free kick from Ferid Celosmanovic to give Chico State a lead it would never relinquish in a 2-0 victory over the Seawolves. Sunday, he scored in even more dramatic fashion – less than two minutes after the Wildcats tied Grand Canyon with a goal in the 86th minute, Bradford took a loose ball at the mouth of the ’Lopes goal and ripped a low grounder from about 35 yards out through a crowd of defenders (and through the legs of teammate Celosmanovic), past the Grand Canyon goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Bradford’s goal turned out to be the game-winner as the ’Cats posted the stunning 2-1 victory.
Now just three wins shy of the national championship, Bradford and the Wildcats host No. 2 ranked Midwestern State (Tex.) in the NCAA Quarterfinals Saturday at 1 p.m. at University Soccer Stadium.
