The Chico State women's soccer team rode an early goal and the tremendous goalkeeping of Brenna Meier to an important 1-0 victory against Cal State San Marcos Thursday evening at University Soccer Stadium.
 
The win secured the Wildcats no worse than a first-round home match in Tuesday's opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament. It also put them in position to lock up a first-round bye in Saturday's regular season finale against UC San Diego.
 
The second-place Wildcats (9-1-5 overall and 8-1-2 in the CCAA) would earn the No. 2 seed and an automatic berth in the semifinals with any of the following Saturday: a win; a Sonoma State loss to Cal State Monterey Bay; or a tie and a Sonoma State tie.
 
It won't come easy. UC San Diego (15-1-1, 10-1-0 CCAA) is ranked No. 6 in the nation and wrapped up its third consecutive CCAA title with a win at Stanislaus State Thursday.
 
But the Wildcats have a nice little run of their own they would like to extend. Chico State stretched its school-record home unbeaten streak to 22 with Thursday's victory, while knocking Cal State San Marcos (7-6-3, 6-4-2 CCAA) out of the discussion for a first-round bye or home match. During that record run, the Wildcats are 13-0-3 at University Soccer Stadium in conference play.

 

Erin Woods and Korie Bozart have had a foot in many of those wins. Thursday's was no exception. They teamed up to put Chico State on the board early in the 12^th minute.
 
Nicole Marquez won a 50-50 ball near midfield and passed ahead to Sarah Emigh. With three Wildcats all occupying the same general area near the top of the box ahead, Emigh turned to find Bozart making a delayed run from her left back position.
 
Bozart received the ball with plenty of space and time, about 40 yards out on the left flank. She took one touch and served the ball toward the PK spot. While Susanna Garcia and her defender fought to win the header, Woods slipped between two defenders. When the ball bounced, she was there to arc a header up and over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
 
The goal was Woods' fifth of the season and the 16^th of her career. The assist was Bozart's fifth of the season and the 11^th of her career.
 
They will be among six seniors honored prior to Sunday's 11:30 a.m. match, joining Meier, Jamie Ikeda, Juliana Los, and Devon Morones.
 
All six started Thursday and played a large role in the win. Meier played perhaps the biggest. The senior saved a career-high nine shots to secure her seventh shutout in 12 starts this season.
 
The Pleasant Valley High School (Chico) and Butte Community College product has been nearly untouchable in six home starts, registering five shutouts (including three in a row), a 0.15 goals-against average, and a .973 saves percentage.