Antonia Diaz is there for Chico State's student-athletes. As an intern in the compliance office, she's constantly answering questions, helping guide her peers, and preparing for the next challenge one of them might face. Thursday night, Diaz utilized those same skills on the pitch, and as a result, pounded home the match-winning goal for the Wildcats at Cal State East Bay.
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The junior from Benicia and Wildcat of the Week came on as a substitute with 26 minutes to play. Ten minutes later she gave the Wildcats the lead with her first collegiate goal. Camille Lidster tried to lift the lid on the scoring with a shot from 30 yards out. It rainbowed tantalizingly toward the goal, and while everyone else from each team watched hoping to celebrate either a goal or a save, Diaz was making her way into position to win it for the Wildcats.
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She streaked into the box to hunt the winner, and when Lidster's try clanged off the crossbar, it caromed right into Diaz's path. She met it just in front of the penalty spot and directed a low left-footed volley into the back of the net for the match-winning goal with just 10:03 to play under the lights in Hayward.
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Diaz's strong play Thursday led to her first start of the season in the Wildcats' scoreless draw against Stanislaus State Sunday in Chico. The Wildcats will host San Francisco State and Sonoma State this weekend.
