Sophomore defender Danielle Leiva had just one career assist as a member of the Chico State women’s soccer team heading into last weekend’s road trip against San Francisco State and Cal Poly Pomona. The Wildcats split the series, but Leiva came up big in each contest, setting up the ’Cats lone goal in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Gators, then notching her second assist of the weekend in Chico State’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Broncos. Levia’s offensive contributions have earned the San Diego native the Wildcat of the Week award.
Against San Francisco State, Shelby Dunlap scored her first collegiate goal on a Leiva feed in the 20th minute to tie up the match with the Gators, who ultimately won 2-1 on a second half goal.
Sunday, in a must-win match against Cal Poly Pomona, Leiva assisted in a dramatic 89th minute goal when her hard shot bounced out to Denni Jo Berger, who scored from 10 yards out to tie the match at 1-apiece. Lisa Webster’s goal four minutes into overtime gave Chico State the exciting 2-1 victory to keep the Wildcats alive in the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) North Division race and in the hunt for an NCAA postseason berth.
Leiva and the Wildcats play their final regular matches of the regular season this weekend, taking on Cal State East Bay on Friday afternoon and Cal State Monterey Bay Sunday morning.
