Every member of the 2019 Chico State women's soccer wears a wristband that reads "C.A.R.E.," which stands for: Character, Accountability. Resliliency. Engagement. Abbie Jones' resilience was tested right off the bat and she's passed with flying colors. Her latest performances—including a match-tying goal Friday and an assist Sunday—helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of road wins and Jones to Wildcat of the Week honors.
One of two seniors on the squad and a member of the leadership group that chose the acronym, Jones spent the offseason planning to help anchor the back line. It was a job she held and excelled at for most of her previous three seasons. But after the first match of the season, Jones was moved into an attacking midfielder role. She's performed like a prospective All-West Region selection there as well. In the Wildcats' eight matches with Jones in the midfield, they've gone 7-1-1, and Jones has scored a team-best four goals.
The Wildcats trailed 2-1 early in the second half Friday when Jones snuck around the back of her defender at the far post and then cut back inside and in front of her to receive Mackenzie Gill's cross. Jones hammered into the back of the net, helping propel the Wildcats to their first road win after facing a two-goal deficit since the 2000 season. Jones nearly scored again Sunday but had to settle for the assist. Her rocket from 16 yards caromed off the lower lip of the cross bar, bouncing once before Susanna Garcia headed it home for a 2-0 lead.
The Ponderosa High School (Shingle Springs) product is tied for fourth in the CCAA with four goals and tied for seventh with nine points.
