PORTLAND – These Wildcats are apparently fast learners. The Chico State women's soccer team scored twice in the second half to beat Concordia-Portland 2–0 Saturday in Portland to wrap up its season-opening road trip in the Pacific Northwest with a solid split.
Erin Woods scored for the second straight match, in the 53
rd minute, and assisted on true freshman Lia Kilgore's first collegiate goal in the 55
th. Another true freshman, Wildcats goalkeeper Claire Abele, logged her first collegiate clean sheet, making four saves in the process.
"Finishing this road trip with a split is a great result for us," said Wildcats Head Coach Kim Sutton. "These two matches really helped prepare us for play in the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association)."
First, the Wildcats will play their first two home matches next week when Azusa Pacific visits Thursday for a 7 p.m. match, and Dominican (California) comes to town Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff.
Though Concordia (picked to finish third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll) enjoyed much of the possession Saturday, the Wildcats played well in the back third to limit the Cavaliers' dangerous chances. Kasey Cruz, Brooke Coelho and Abbie Jones started and went the distance to lead the defense, which surrendered just four shots on goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Claire Abele
notched her first collegiate shutout.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats created some magic with the counter attack. Woods' physicality and Lauren Maderos's speed proved too much for the Cavaliers. Another of Chico State's promising true freshmen, Madero ran down a ball played by Woods over the top on the right side of the box to set up the first goal. Woods, meanwhile, barreled down the middle of the pitch toward the mouth of the goal. Madero smartly picked her out and sent a well-timed and executed cross to Woods, who hit the target from close range.
Two minutes later, Woods escaped some traffic in the middle of the pitch to deliver a pass that put Kilgore through the defense and into the box. The goalkeeper roamed far off the line in an attempt to limit the angle, but Kilgore stayed composed and tucked her shot inside the far post for a 2–0 lead.
Chico State led 2–0 at the half in Thursday's season-opener at Seattle Pacific before surrendering three second-half goals in a frustrating loss. Saturday was a different story.
"We definitely played a more physical match," said Sutton. "And we did a good job staying composed."
