LA JOLLA – After a promising start to the season the Chico State women's soccer team's perplexing free fall continued Sunday with a 3-1 loss at 11^th-ranked UC San Diego.
 
The Wildcats threatened to make a big comeback, cutting the deficit in half on Lindsey Dias' second half goal and then putting together some threatening chances, but the Tritons' Mary Reilly salted the match away with an 87^th-minute strike.
 
Chico State, 4-4-1 overall and 0-4-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) has now lost four straight (all on the road) following a 4-0-1 start that had the Wildcats ranked as high as No. 13 in the nation.
 
UC San Diego, led by Reilly's goal and two assists, improved to 7-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the CCAA.
 
The match was scoreless at the half. Chico State freshman goalkeeper Caylin Stanley, making her first collegiate start, stacked up four saves before the break.
 
But the Tritons broke the seal 5:17 into the second half as Katie O'Laughlin buried Reilly's cross into the top shelf for her conference-best eighth goal. 
 
Jordyn McNutt's header six minutes later made it 2-0.
 
The Wildcats made it 2-1 in the 65^th minute. After a nifty run down the left side, Carlie Reader rifled a cross from near the end line right toward the penalty spot. Katie Brown dummied it nicely and Dias had plenty of space and time to pick her spot. She hit one hard a low for her second goal of the season and the 18^th of her career, tying her with Katherine Bagwell for 10^th most in program history.
 
Chico State will attempt to turn the momentum of this season back in its favor during a stretch of four straight home matches and six of eight beginning Friday against Cal State San Bernardino at 4:30.