The Chico State women's soccer team may not be headed to the postseason, but Head Coach Kim Sutton's squad has suddenly become the team nobody in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) wants to play. The Wildcats are finishing with a flourish, having lost just once in their last five matches – and as they showed Friday at University Soccer Stadium, can match the conference's best step for step. The 'Cats held No. 20 Sonoma State scoreless over the final 91 minutes of the contest to earn a hard-fought 1-1 tie.
With Friday's draw, Chico State is now 7-7-2 overall and 3-7-1 in the CCAA. Sonoma State saw its record go to 10-2-2 on the season and 8-1-1 in CCAA play.
All the scoring came in the opening period, and though the Wildcats only came away with one goal, their aggressive play resulted in 12 shots in the first half, bombarding Seawolves' goalkeeper Kristen Spear with six shots on goal.
Sonoma State got on the scoreboard first, striking paydirt in the 18th minute. Sam Layman gathered in an open field pass from Kristyn Lerma and booted the ball home from close range. Chico State goalkeeper Caitlyn Duval was injured on the play and had to leave the match, but Amanda Simonich came in and proceeded to hold Sonoma scoreless the rest of the way, stopping four shots on goal.
It didn't take long for Chico State to knot up the contest. In the 22nd minute Katie Brown beat Spear to the ball and on the breakaway delivered a goal into the open net to make it a 1-1 game.
From there the defense took over, and despite another seven shots – including five spread out over the two overtime periods – the Wildcats could not punch in the match winner. Sonoma State could muster just one shot on goal in the two overtimes, and when the final horn sounded, the two teams were forced to be content with the 1-1 tie.
The Wildcats outshot the Seawolves 19-13 on the night, while Sonoma State had a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Chico State will play its final match of the regular season Sunday, entertaining Humboldt State at 2 p.m. at University Soccer Stadium. The match will be preceded by Senior Day festivities honoring Wildcats Shelby Lanksbury, Katie Brown, Emily Shleppey, Lindsey Dias and Amanda Simonich.
