Chico State true freshman Susanna Garcia gave the Chico State women's soccer team's offense the lift it desperately needed in Sunday's 3-1 win at Dominican University of California.
The Wildcats had opened the season with three consecutive scoreless draws, the third coming Thursday night against Seattle Pacific.
With the team desperate to get on the scoreboard, Garcia, who was celebrating her birthday Sunday, got it done just 47 seconds into the match. Juliana Los set the play in motion, knocking down an attempted clearance and quickly serving it toward the far post of the Penguins' goal. Running onto the ball near the top-right corner of the six-yard box, Garcia quickly lost her defender with a first touch back to the left. Another defender was closing fast, but Garcia calmly took one more touch to the left to gain space before slamming a shot just inside the far post from eight yards out.
Garcia struck again in the 39th minute with a brilliant volley of Korie Bozart one-timed service. Garcia, who had been waiting patiently near the PK spot, met the ball on one bounce at the edge of the six-yard box and used the outside of her right boot to flick it over the charging goalkeeper.
Garcia, who took four shots Thursday, three of which were saved, put all three of her shots on frame Sunday. She enters this weekend's CCAA opener ranked third in the conference in shots per game (4.00). The Wildcats will host Cal State L.A. Friday at 4:30 p.m. and Cal State Dominguez Hills Sunday morning at 11:30.
