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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Tabler and the Wildcats will play Cal Poly Pomona in the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. in Turlock.
