Box Score Oh that Gallagher, he’s a funny one – lifting the sledgehammer high above his head before smashing the hopes of anyone hoping to get out of the place without getting egg on their face. Of course, Sean Gallagher is no comedian. He’s a freshman on the Chico State soccer team making a name for himself with his own strange shtick. Gallagher possesses an uncanny ability to throw a soccer ball with two hands from behind his head much farther than most mortals. And that ability led directly to the Wildcats’ 2-1 win against Cal Poly Pomona Friday night at University Soccer Stadium.
Gallagher assisted on both of Chico State’s goals with long throw-ins as the Wildcats broke open what to that point was an uncomfortably close affair. Gallagher chucked a throw to Akwafei Ajeakwa making a run toward the near post and the Wildcats’ leading scorer directed it home with a flick off his shin in the 75th minute. He unfurled a low fastball that Ajeakwa flicked off the near post with a diving header less than two minutes later and Micah Miranda pounced to pound it home with exactly 14 minutes to play.
Miranda celebrated scoring in front of his parents in town from Hawaii in anticipation of Sunday’s “Senior Day” ceremony with an impressive back flip. But his celebration didn’t entail quite the choreography of Ajeakwa’s, who celebrated his fifth tally by performing a mock rowing exhibition with some of his teammates.
(Wouldn’t it have been more fitting had Micah rowed the boat ashore?)
With the win, the Wildcats continued to sail ahead of the competition in their quest for their third consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division crown. They stretched their unbeaten streak to eight matches, improving to 7-2-3 overall and 6-1-3 in the CCAA with four matches remaining.
Ironically, Cal Poly Pomona got a goal back in the 84th minute as a result of its own long throw-in from Jesus Mitre. Justin Peeples flicked the ball on with a header near the edge of the box and Christopher Rosales headed into the top shelf for his first goal of the season.
The Broncos fell to 3-7-2 overall and 1-7-2 in the CCAA with their third consecutive loss.
The careers of Miranda and reserve goalkeepers James Stroud and Dan Houck will be celebrated Sunday before the Wildcats host San Francisco State. The ceremony will take place at approximately 1:45 and the match is scheduled to kick off at 2.
