Chico State true freshman forward Matt Hurlow made his first taste of the Chico State-Sonoma State soccer rivalry a delicious one, scoring the golden goal in the 94th minute of the Wildcats' 1-0 overtime victory Friday in Rohnert Park. Hurlow, a product of Escondido High School, got behind the defense on a long pass and then flick-on into the box. He took a quick touch and then tucked a quick right-footed strike between the near post and goalkeeper for the game winner despite a tough angle.
The goal was Hurlow's second of the season and his second game winner, lifting him into a tie for the team lead in that category and into a tie for third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
After opening the season in the starting lineup for the first two matches, Hurlow had been coming off the bench of late. But he was inserted back into a starting role Friday and played a season-high 73 minutes.
The Wildcats and Seawolves will tangle once again a week from Sunday in Chico. Prior to that, Chico State hosts Cal State Stanislaus Friday night to open an important weekend in the race for the California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division title, which the Wildcats are aiming to win for the third season in a row.
