SEATTLE – Young and exciting. Those were Chico State women's soccer coach Kim Sutton's two most common descriptions of her team heading into its 2017 season opener Thursday night at Seattle Pacific University.
Not surprisingly, the coach with 23 years of NCAA Division II coaching experience (17 at Chico State), knows of what she speaks.
The Wildcats took a 2–0 lead into halftime and out-shot the Falcons 20–9, but some poor decision-making cost them dearly in the second half, resulting in a 3–2 defeat.
"I sure thought we had it. We're certainly dangerous offensively and had a lot of great scoring opportunities. We could have had a few more goals with a little bit of luck," said Sutton. "I'm super excited about the things we're doing. But we're still learning and young. Our decision making and the little bit of hesitation that comes with not being 100-percent confident in what we are doing cost us."
Erin Woods scored a goal and nearly had two more in her first start as a
forward for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats grabbed the 2-0 lead on goals by defender Korie Bozart and Erin Woods, who has transitioned to an attacking player after spending her first two seasons on the squad on as a defender and midfielder.
Bozart, who found the back of the net three times last season, hit a banger from 30 yards out to open the scoring in the 11
th minute.
Fifteen minutes later the Wildcats struck again.
Probing the middle of the pitch following a poor clearance, Lia Kilgore drew a crowd before connecting with fellow freshman Kylie Martinez in space on the left flank. Martinez one-timed a pass from 30 yards to the top of the six-yard box where Woods ran under it and flicked a header on inside the far post for a 2–0 lead.
20 seconds left free kick from just outside the box. But SPU encroached on the ball and didn't move back and the clock ran out.
Seattle Pacific pulled even with two goals in the span of two-and-a-half minutes early in the second half.
Woods nearly reclaimed the lead for the Wildcats with a flicked on header off a free kick in the 72
nd minute, only to be denied by a strong save. Then, with eight minutes remaining, Woods found the back of the net with a ball pin-balling around in the box, but the offsides flag went up.
Seattle Pacific scored the match winner with just over two minutes to play.
The Wildcats will attempt to split the season-opening road trip Saturday at Concordia-Portland. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 11 a.m.
