It won’t take place at high noon, but it promises to be a showdown at University Soccer Stadium when the Chico State women’s soccer team hosts Cal State Stanislaus Friday at 4:30 PM at University Soccer Stadium. First place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division will be on the line as well as Highway 99 bragging rights in what has become a heated rivalry over the last few seasons.
Cal State Stanislaus currently owns that right to brag thanks to a 2-1 victory in Turlock on Sept. 11. Karenee Demery scored the game winner with just 49 seconds left in regulation. That win is the reason the Warriors (4-1-1 in the CCAA) boast a one-point lead over Chico State (4-2-0) in the division standings, 13-12. Sonoma State is currently in third place with 10 points.
The winners of the CCAA’s North and South Divisions will earn a berth to the CCAA Championship Tournament, along with the next two teams with the highest point totals regardless of division. Teams receive three points for a win and one for a draw.
The Wildcats, 4-3-1 overall, entered the NSCAA West Region rankings at No. 7 following wins at Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. Cal State Stanislaus (5-1-2) is No. 3.
Denni Jo Berger and Jennie Barto scored second-half goals to lift the Wildcats to a 2-1 win against the Warriors last season in Chico. The Wildcats are hoping for more of the same at home Friday.
They’ll actually be at home for the next two weekends as Friday marks the start of a four-game homesetand for the Wildcats, who played seven of their first eight games of the season on the road. (They beat Sonoma State 2-1 in their only other home match with Scotie Walker’s golden goal in the second overtime).
The second of those four will take place Sunday when the Wildcats host Humboldt State at 11:30 AM. The Lumberjacks enter the weekend in last place in the North Division at 0-4-2. They won their only non-conference game this season, beating Western Oregon at home 1-0. They’ve also earned 1-1 draws against at Sonoma State and at home against Cal State East Bay.
The Wildcats split the series with the Lumberjacks last season, winning 2-1 at home and losing 2-0 in Arcata.
