Chico State Athletics

Chico State senior midfielder Alex Fluitt scored his first collegiate goal to draw the Wildcats' even in the 75th minute Friday afternoon at Humboldt State and then assisted on the match-winner with just 31 seconds remaining in regulation, lifting the Wildcats to the first of two 2-1 road victories over the weekend and netting Fluitt Wildcat of the Week honors.

Friday's assist was the 11th of the senior from Benicia's (Benicia HS) collegiate career. But he had not yet found the back of the net. He wasn't necessarily trying to when he actually did. His free kick from 28 yards was perfectly placed for Justin Bethke to body inside the near post. However, Bethke was tangled up with a defender and couldn't get a touch. Caught trying to cover the near post, the keeper was unable to react back across his body in time as the ball skipped off the turf and into the far side netting with 15:12 remaining in regulation.

Fluitt's match winning assist came from nearly the same spot on the opposite side of the pitch. After one attempted cross from the edge of the 18 bounced right back to him, Fluitt stepped on the ball and surveyed the scene. He created a small window by getting around two defenders with a move toward the goal line and rolled a pass just out of the reach of two more defenders. The ball bounced toward Ronan McEnroe, posted up on top corner of the six-yard box facing Fluitt. The pass took a deflection in the scrum at the front of the net and rolled into the far left corner for the win.

Fluitt is the program's active career leader in assists with 11.