Box Score Fifth-year senior Micah Miranda came off the pitch to a standing ovation with two minutes left on Senior Day at University Soccer Stadium where the zero on the visitor’s side of the scoreboard stood for all 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against San Francisco State.
Jake Ward, Luis Martinez and Akwafei Ajeakwa all scored for the Wildcats, with Miranda assisting on Martinez’s strike. Chico State completely dominated the match that was preceded by a nice ceremony in which Miranda and senior goalkeepers James Stroud and Dan Houck were honored.
The Wildcats outshot San Francisco State 22-4, didn’t allow a shot until the 67th minute, and didn’t give up a shot on goal in locking down their seventh shutout of the season. Six of those clean sheets have come during the team’s current nine-match unbeaten streak. They’ve won three in a row to improve to 8-2-3 overall and 7-1-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
San Francisco State fell to 1-10-3 overall and 0-8-3 in the CCAA.
With just three regular season matches remaining on the scheduled, the Wildcats lead the CCAA’s North Division by four points. (Teams earn 3 points for each win and 1 for each tie). Second-place Cal State Stanislaus has four matches remaining.
Chico State will play at Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego next Friday and Sunday, respectively, before wrapping up the regular season in Turlock against the Warriors on Oct. 26.
Ward staked the Wildcats to a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute, assisted by Octavio Guzman’s driving free kick from the near sideline to just outside the far post. Ward looped the header up and over Gators’ keeper Anthony Rodriguez and into the side netting.
Martinez made it 2-0 in the 74th minute. Miranda took a pass from the sideline to his right and quickly put Martinez in business by swinging a pass from above the top of the box to just inside of it on the left side. Martinez then maneuvered around a defender with a deceptive dribble before drilling a shot into the back of the net from 15 yards.
The Wildcats put the match away in the 78th minute, taking advantage of the pressing Gators when Mike Janjigian played a ball over the top of the defense to the speedy striker Ajeakwa. The Wildcats’ scoring leader went far post to beat Rodriguez for his sixth goal of the season and third in the last three matches.
