CHICO – Ryan Struckmeyer answered San Francisco State’s lone goal 42 seconds later and the Chico State and visiting Gators’ men’s soccer teams played to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at University Soccer Stadium. Struckmeyer headed home Evan Armstrong’s driving cross to cap a counterattack in the 63rd minute of play. San Francisco State’s Arnol Arceta had put the Gators on top seconds before on a free kick from 20 yards out.

Chico State is now 7-3-3 overall and 4-2-3 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action. The Wildcats remained unbeaten at home at 5-0-2. San Francisco State is now 5-4-3 overall and 2-3-3 in the CCAA.

The tie also kept Chico State unbeaten at home against the Gators since 1993. They’re now 13-0-2 when hosting San Francisco State during that span and lead the all-time series 57-18-8.

The Gators must have felt like that streak was in jeapordy when Arceta took advantage of a foul call near the top-left corner of the Chico State penalty box and drilled it overall the wall just inside the near post to give them a 1-0 lead.

After San Francisco State attacked the Wildcats’ goal again, Chico State got a turnover and Armstrong sprinted down the left flank with the ball before the Gators could recover. He drilled a pass toward the back post that Struckmeyer ran on to, elevated, and snapped into the far corner to tie the match at 1-1.

Though the Wildcats made a number of threats as the end of the match drew nearer, no go-ahead goal was found and they were forced to settle for a tie despite outshooting their guests 20-8. Each team earned five corner kicks.

Chico State goalkeeper Michael Keohane made three saves, while his counterpart, Eric Scolman, made a pair.

The Wildcats are back in action Saturday when they travel to Turlock to face off with Cal State Stanislaus at 4:30 pm.

BOX SCORE