CHICO, Calif. – A lot can change in two days in the world of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s soccer. Just ask the men’s soccer teams from Chico State and UC San Diego.
On Friday night, Chico State earned its biggest win of the season against CCAA South Division leader Cal State Dominguez Hills while UC San Diego was absorbing its most disappointing defeat at CCAA North Division cellar dweller Cal State Stanislaus. Sunday, UC San Diego turned its weekend around, snapping Chico State’s seven-match home winning streak with a 2-0 victory at University Soccer Stadium.
Tom Caplan and Jared Kukura scored second-half goals for the Tritons, who improved to 7-4-2 overall and 4-4-2 in the CCAA. UC San Diego has also beaten Chico State five times in a row.
Chico State, which took 10 corner kicks to San Diego’s one but never capitalized, fell to 10-3-0 overall and 6-3-0 in the CCAA. The loss was the Wildcats’ first at home this season.
Chico State controlled play early on and did not allow the visiting Tritons to take a single shot until just over 13 minutes remained in the first half. UC San Diego turned things around in the second half, however, out shooting the hosts 6-5. In the end, Chico State’s 12-10 advantage in shots proved to be a bit deceiving as the Wildcats were limited to just one shot on goal to the Tritons’ four. Chico State’s one shot on goal, Zac Crim’s header in the first half – was saved off the line by a UC San Diego defender.
Caplan opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when he rebounded Aaron McDowell’s shot for a 1-0 lead. Shane Micheil set the play in motion with a great pass from midfield. He spun a high floater to McDowell who was headed to the far corner. McDowell cut the ball back in and fired a shot that Wildcats goalkeeper Michael Keohane dove to save. He stopped the shot, but it rolled from his grip and Caplan hammered it inside the near post from close range.
UC San Diego’s second goal came on a restart. Tony Choi bent the free kick from 40 yards toward the middle of the box and then back out where Kukura made a near-post run and got his head on it, sending it inside the near post for a 2-0 UC San Diego lead.
That marked the second time Chico State has allowed two goals in a match all season and the first time at home. They had outscored their previous seven opponents at University Soccer Stadium 13-2 this season.
The Wildcats wrap up their 2008 home schedule next weekend when they face Cal State Monterey Bay Friday at 7 p.m. and San Francisco State Sunday at 2 p.m.
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