Megan Tabler gave herself a nice birthday gift, notching a pair of assists in a 3-2 win against Cal State San Bernardino in Thursday's regular-season finale. The win secured the Wildcats' first-round bye in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament and netted Tabler Wildcat of the Week honors. The bye earned Tabler and the Wildcats a day off Sunday, which was Tabler's 21st birthday.
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Tabler, who along with Halima Abelshife, Torri Sims and Brianna Furner helped lead the 2011 team to the NCAA Championship Tournament Final Four, will wrap up her illustrious four-year career back in the postseason.
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She teamed up with Abdelshife to set up Shelby Lanksbury's goal 2:30 into the match. Abdelshife redirected Tabler's corner kick back across the goal and Lanksbury was there to slam it home from 15 yards.
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Chico State took a 3-0 lead into intermission thanks to Katie Woodrum's 44th-minute goal set up by Tabler's free kick. Tabler angled the restart from 40 yards out from left to right and Woodrum worked her way clear of a defender and directed it home with a header.
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With a dozen career assists, Tabler is just one shy of joining Chico State's all-time career top-10. She's also the team's active career leader in goals (7) and points (26).
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Tabler and the Wildcats will play Cal Poly Pomona in the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. in Turlock.
