LA JOLLA—An outstanding regular season provided a much-appreciated cushion for the Chico State women's soccer team Friday. 
 
The Wildcats and Sonoma State played to a 1-1 draw in the opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament before the Seawolves advanced to Sunday's championship match on penalty kicks.
 
But there was no panic or gloom in Chico State's postgame huddle. The Wildcats are certain they will be back in action next week in the NCAA Championship Tournament. They entered the CCAA Tournament in La Jolla (on the campus of UC San Diego) ranked No. 4 in the West Region and No. 24 in the nation. They will leave La Jolla with a record of 10-1-6. 

 
Chico State will find out where, and who, it will play next during the NCAA Championship Tournament selection show Monday at 3:30 p.m.
 
"The good news is, we got a tie against a very good team, so we shouldn't drop in the regional rankings," Chico State Head Coach Kim Sutton said. "And we'll go home tomorrow and have a chance to rest up before we find out what's next. There's a lot that we can take from this experience and build on."
 
For a bit it looked as though the Wildcats might earn their second 1-0 win against their long-time rivals. Lauren Madero gave Chico State a lead in the 42^ndminute, but the Seawolves got the equalizer in the 70^thminute.
 
"That was such a battle. This is such a great rivalry we have with them," said Sutton. 
 
Chico State's goal was a super-sub strike. Substitutes Madero, Jordan Doukakis, and Juliana Los teamed up on the goal after Korie Bozart set the play in motion. Bozart got things going the Wildcats' way with a takeaway at midfield before playing the ball to Doukakis down the left flank.
 
Doukakis drove a service toward the top of the 18-yard box where Los leapt to flick it on toward the far post. Madero was there with a step on her defender, took a touch, and then hit a head-high rocket to beat the goalkeeper near post for her first goal of the season.
 
"I was doing a lot of visualization and what I saw ended up happening," said Madero, who scored for the first time this season after tallying twice in 2017 as a freshman. 
 

"You couldn't ask for a better person to get on the end of the ball," Sutton said. "You give her that look and she's going to convert."
 
Each team had chances to score the match-winner, but the remainder regulation and the two 10-minute overtimes was marked by a few near misses and a magic save by Wildcats goalkeeper Brenna Meier, who made six saves in all. The senior dove to her right to smother a shot from inside the six-yard box.
 
The penalty kick shootout to determine which team advanced went the Seawolves' way. 
 
Chico State missed its first two penalties and kicked from behind from the start. Nadiah Martinez's strike gave them life, but the Seawolves' third make in four tries sealed it.
 
Sonoma State is now 10-3-4 and will face Friday afternoon's UC San Diego–San Francisco State winner for the CCAA Tournament title Sunday.