Was Nike secretly testing a new magnetic ball on an unsuspecting Chico State men’s soccer team? Balls were pinging off the frame so often those sorts of conspiracy theories actually came to mind. Ferid Celosmanovic and Michael Tieku each drove balls off the crossbar and Tyson Crim banged one off the inside corner of the post, but a spirited rally fell a goal short for the Wildcats in a 2-1 loss to Cal State San Bernardino Sunday afternoon at University Soccer Stadium.
Albert Cabrera scored twice during a two-minute span in the first half to stake the visiting Coyotes to a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats got one back in the 75th minute when Chris Akwaja finished Tieku’s deflected shot at the far post. But the frame and the play of Cal State San Bernardino goalkeeper Arath De La Rocha kept the Wildcats from getting the equalizer.
Chico State, ranked No. 20 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region entering the weekend, dipped to 5-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Bernardino, the No. 6 team in the West, improved to 4-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in the CCAA with its second road victory against an opponent ranked in the nation’s Top 25 in two weekends. The Coyotes beat then-25th-ranked Sonoma State 5-3 back on Sept. 10.
Jose Godinez set up Cabrera for his first goal, a low liner from the top of the box that snuck between the post and diving Wildcats goalkeeper Sam Evans in the 30th minute. He struck again 1:41 later, volleying home a restart off the foot of Obi Agwu at the near post.
The second half included a number of wild sequences. First, the Coyotes hit the crossbar on consecutive shots, and then Nick Tedrow pushed a ball toward the far post while colliding with De La Rocha that went wide, but Crim slid to get a foot on it before it went out of bounds and it rolled back across the goal to the far post where it struck the inside of the post but did not go in.
A few minutes later, Tieku hit a rocket off the crossbar that Celosmanovic recovered and knocked off the crossbar from about 25 yards.
De La Rosa stopped Josh Borja’s effort from close range with about three minutes to go, preserving the Coyotes’ victory.
The Wildcats finished with a 16-14 advantage in shots and 6-4 edge in corners. De La Rosa made a trio of saves.
James Stroud came on to play goalie for the Wildcats in the second half and made three nice saves to give the Wildcats a chance to rally.
Chico State is home again next weekend, playing host to Humboldt State Friday and Sonoma State Sunday.
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