Brooke Coelho covered the pitch from end to end and helped carry the Chico State women's soccer team to victory in a non-conference match against UC Santa Cruz Friday at University Soccer Stadium, earning Wildcat of the Week honors in the process.
The senior defender from Arcata (Arcata HS) scored her first collegiate goal to give the Wildcats their final 2–0 margin of victory while helping anchor the back line, which allowed only four shots in the match, only one of which was on goal.
Erin Woods assisted Coelho's strike in the 15th minute. Woods won a ball at midfield and then dribbled through the teeth of the defense toward the top of the box. The entire stadium heard Coelho's cries for the ball as she made a nice run down the right flank. Woods delivered it at just the right time, putting Coelho in behind the defense on a sprint toward the right post. Coelho remained cool, calm, and collected, and she did not miss. Her blast from 10 yards sailed inside the near post and pounded the back of the net.
Coelho and the Wildcats, now 6-5-0 on the season, will attempt to extend their six-match home winning streak and nine-match home-unbeaten streak next Friday night when Cal Poly Pomona comes to town for a 7 p.m. showdown.
