It has all the makings of a salty and sad country western song full of sappy stories, magnificent memories, and excruciating goodbyes. It could be called: Last time in La Jolla.

This Sunday, the Chico State women’s soccer program’s two seniors – Shelby Dunlap and Denni Jo Berger – will be playing at UC San Diego in La Jolla for the sixth and final time of their four-year careers. It will surely bring back memories of some of the best and heartbreaking moments in the history of Chico State women’s soccer.

They were freshmen in 2009 when the Wildcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament for the first time by virtue of a shootout victory against Seattle Pacific. Dunlap started the match and Berger came off the bench in what to that point was arguably the biggest achievement in Chico State women’s soccer history.

Post-match story HERE.

They lost in heartbreaking fashion to UC San Diego two days later on Sarah McTigue’s goal in the closing minutes.

Post-match story HERE.

Last season the Wildcats began their run to the NCAA Championship Final Four by making more history in La Jolla.

First they stunned 24th-ranked Cal State Stanislaus – a team that had beaten the Wildcats 4-0 only five days earlier – by beating them in a shootout with a song.

Post-match story HERE.

Two days later, they took out 12th-ranked UC San Diego 1-0. With the first outright NCAA Championship Tournament victory, the Wildcats moved past the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament for the first time in the program’s history.

Post-match story HERE.

This season the Wildcats have been a bit out of tune. They’ve won only once following a 4-2 start to fall almost completely out of postseason contention at 5-9 overall and 3-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. A pair of wins this weekend might keep their postseason hopes alive. They’ll play at Cal State San Bernardino (7-5-2, 5-5-1 CCAA) Friday at 12:30 before facing 12th-ranked UC San Diego (10-1-2, 8-1-2 CCAA) Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Live stats for each match will be available on the Chico State Athletics homepage and women’s soccer team page.

Dunlap, Berger and the rest of the Wildcats will likely roll into La Jolla in a bus instead of a truck or on a tractor. They won’t be wearing blue jeans with Copenhagen rings or playing in cowboy boots. But they will be hoping to write one last memorable verse in what has been amazing true-life tale.