Box Score As soon as Kramer made his entrance it turned into a laugher. But this was no Seinfeld episode. It was the Chico State men’s soccer team’s 2012 season opener.
Kramer Runager flicked home the game’s first goal in the 66th minute – only 2:16 after he entered as a second-half substitute – and the host Wildcats scored again 10 minutes later before hanging on for a 2-1 victory over visiting Western Washington Thursday night at University Soccer Stadium.
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A match that had featured little continuity over its opening hour quickly turned heavily Chico State’s way after Runager’s entrance. And when Octavio Guzman targeted the Wildcats’ Foothill Community College transfer on a driving free kick, Runager took advantage with a nifty back-of-the-head flick that wound up nestled nicely in the netting near the far post.
Runager nearly notched an assist moments later but Luis Martinez misfired from 15 yards. Martinez got another chance soon after and this time he was on target. The play was set up when the Wildcats moved the ball into the right side of the box where a cluster of bodies came together. It originally looked as if true freshman Ethan Story had passed the ball to Martinez. But it was later determined that it was Guzman, in fact. The sophomore displayed great vision, cutting in front of Story (who had been knocked slightly off the ball) and poking the ball to Martinez waiting alone in the opposite corner of the box. Martinez did the rest, quickly stepping around a defender and then easily beating the goalkeeper to the near post from 10 yards out.
Western Washington’s Justin Moore gave the Vikings hope when he got behind the defense and then around Wildcats’ goalkeeper Sam Evans to cut Chico State’s lead to 2-1 in the 83rd minute. But a stifling Wildcats defense that allowed just eight shots on the evening made the lead stand up.
Evans, who became the eighth Chico State goalkeeper to win his 20th career match, made two saves. His teammates fired away at the goal 17 times. The Wildcats also enjoyed a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks in beating the Vikings for the sixth straight time.
Western Washington, picked to finish fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll, was also playing its first match of the season.
Chico State will take on No. 11 Seattle Pacific Saturday at 7 p.m. in what is sure to be one of the matches of the year at University Soccer Stadium.
