SAN FRANCISCO – Kezar Stadium is celebrating its 90th anniversary as a sports mecca in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The Chico State men's soccer team got the unique experience of playing in the legendary facility Thursday as part of the Kezar Classic, and delivered a spirited, hard-hitting 110 minutes in its matchup with Academy of Art. The two teams combined for 38 shots, 39 fouls and a healthy handful of yellow cards – the only thing missing was a goal. After grinding it out through 90 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods, the Wildcats and Urban Knights had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
 
The tie left the Wildcats with a 0-2-1 record on the season. Academy of Art saw its record even up at 1-1-1.

 

Though neither team could get on the scoreboard in the first half, it wasn't for lack of trying. Academy of Art came out firing, launching four shots in the first four-and-a-half minutes, with 'Cats' goalkeeper Andrew Matthews chalking up three early saves. Chico State wasn't exactly quiet offensively and was clearly the aggressor in the second half of the period, posting five shots in the final 15 minutes. The Wildcats' defense, meanwhile, held Academy of Art to just one shot during that stretch.
 
The 'Cats continued to attack to open the second half, but two shots apiece by Matt Hurlow and Omar Nuno in the first 10 minutes of the period failed to find the back of the net. The two teams combined for six shots (four by Chico State) in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but no scores sent the contest into overtime.
 
The Wildcats and Urban Knights traded shots on goal early in the first OT, and one last shot by Hurlow sailed high in the 99th minute, forcing a second overtime.
 
With the clock winding down, Chico State had a chance to win, but back-to-back shots by Hurlow and Russell Ellyson in the 106th minute were blocked. The last four minutes ticked off without any further shots, and the match ended in a scoreless tie.
 
The Wildcats outshot Academy of Art 21-17 overall, with Matthews making a career-high seven saves in posting his first shutout of the season. Chico State also held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.
 
Complete match statistics will be posted later this evening.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, returning to Kezar Stadium for a 2 p.m. match against Dominican University (0-2-1). The Penguins lost the Kezar Classic opener Thursday, dropping a 3-0 decision to San Francisco State.