Box Score SEASIDE – Twenty terrific minutes to start the second half had the Chico State women’s soccer team closing in an important road win. The Wildcats couldn’t cash in, however, and lost 1-0 at Cal State Monterey Bay Sunday.

Following a first half in which they managed just a single shot, the Wildcats worked things out during intermission and came out firing with four shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of the second half. But Otters’ goalkeeper Diana Zambrano foiled them every time.

She stopped on-frame shots by Stephanie Vaquerano and Megan Tabler in the 55th minute. Then came Chico State’s two best chances of the day. A 2-on-1 breakaway resulted in Scotie Walker’s blast from the just inside the box but Zambrano dove left to deny the try in the 55th minute. Shelby Dunlap drove a ball toward the far post after Zambrano had unsuccessfully charged out to challenge her. The shot got past Zambrano, but Otters defender Lacey Atkinson saved the ball off the line in the 63rd minute.

Cal State Monterey Bay scored the match’s lone goal in the 68th minute when Korie Soares sent a pass behind the defense to Regan Porteous who beat ’Cats keeper Brianna Furner with a blast to the top right corner.

To that point, Furner had kept the ‘Cats close. The sophomore saved five shots in the first half and eight in the match.

Chico State fell to 5-7 overall and 3-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State Monterey Bay improved to 6-5 overall and 4-5 in the CCAA. The Wildcats return home to face Cal Poly Pomona and San Francisco State next Friday and Sunday, respectively.