It was a frustrating weekend for the Chico State women’s soccer team, dropping a pair of heartbreakers to Cal State San Bernardino and San Francisco State. Despite the setbacks, the Wildcats played tough, tenacious ball throughout, and for junior defender Halima Abdelshife, her hard-nosed hustle resulted in her first goal of the season – and the team’s lone score of the weekend. Adbelshife’s exploits on the pitch makes her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Abdelshife got the Wildcats’ weekend off to a positive start during Friday’s home match against Cal State San Bernardino. In the contest’s 10th minute, she took a Megan Tabler corner kick and headed it past Coyotes goalie Chelsey Jones to give Chico State an early 1-0 lead. The ’Cats were unable to sustain the advantage, ultimately falling to San Bernardino in overtime, 2-1.
Sunday in San Francisco, Abdelshife was a key component to a Chico State defense that held the host Gators scoreless for nearly all of regulation. The Wildcats’ outstanding effort was spoiled when San Francisco State finally found the back of the net in the 84th minute to squeak out a 1-0 victory.
Abdelshife’s Friday goal was her first for the Wildcats in over a year. Her previous score came on Sept. 30, 2012 in a 3-0 ’Cats victory over Dominican.
The Chico State women’s soccer team returns to the road this weekend, traveling to southern California to take on Cal Poly Pomona Friday afternoon, followed by a Sunday morning match in La Jolla against UC San Diego.
