LOS ANGELES – The Chico State women’s soccer team had one shot clang off the crossbar, another the post, and saw Cal State L.A. goalkeeper Jessie Walworth make a number of nice saves to deny the Wildcats in a 1-0 loss Sunday. The Wildcats finished the game with a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal and 5-3 edge in corner kicks (including 4-1 in the second half), but couldn’t find the back of the net in falling to 2-3-1 overall and 2-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
The Golden Eagles, playing on their home field at Jesse Owens Stadium, got a second-half goal from Janet Mendez and made it stand up. Cal State L.A. (3-2-1, 1-2-1 CCAA) snapped a three-game winless string with its first conference victory.
The game featured two excellent defenses that made scoring chances few and far between. Cal State L.A. had a slim 8-7 edge in shots and the Golden Eagles managed only two shots on goal.
Chico State had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks, including a 4-1 advantage in the second half.
Walworth had four saves for the Golden Eagles while posting her third shutout of the season. Brianna Furner had one save for Chico State.
After a real defensive struggle in the first half that ended with no real good offensive chances for either side, things picked up a little in the second period.
The Wildcats had the first two solid chances in the second period. Alyx Williams sent a header in the box toward the goal, but Walworth was able to make the save. Lisa Webster, who was a real force in the second period for the Wildcats, had a shot that hit the top of the crossbar moments later.
Mendez then gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute with a beautiful shot. Melina Barragan sent a ball into the box and Mendez settled it and then drilled a shot into the upper corner inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
Chico State began a final push in the latter stages of the second half. Webster had a shot that hit the upper far post in the 71st minute after a Cal State L.A. turnover and had another long attempt from about 30 yards out that Walworth saved.
Had just one of those shots gone in, the Wildcats could have left Southern California feeling very good after a 3-1 win against 14th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday. Instead, they’ll have to settle for a split.
The Wildcats will finish a stretch of five straight road games next weekend when they visit Cal State Monterey Bay (Friday at 3 PM) and Cal State East Bay (Sunday at 2 PM). They’ll then begin a four-game home stand on Sept. 30 against current CCAA North Division leader Cal State Stanislaus at 4:30 PM at University Soccer Stadium.
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