LA JOLLA—The Chico State women's soccer team is as well rounded as any you will find in collegiate athletics. On the 596-mile bus trip down Interstate 5 Tuesday, a passenger peeking into the large charter bus windows might easily mistake the Wildcats for a Model UN or speech and debate team with all the books out and laptops humming.
 
The Wildcats have gotten it done on the pitch this season, losing only once in 17 matches to earn an NCAA Championship Tournament berth. That was the destination of the bus they were on Tuesday: the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer West Regional in La Jolla, California, on the campus of UC San Diego.
 
These Wildcats get it done in the classroom as well. Four different players were recently nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America consideration, Sarah Emigh was this year's California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Championship Scholar, and the team was recently awarded its fifth consecutive United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award. Sixteen Wildcats are listed on the team's 3.0 Club outside of the coaches' office, including six members of the "Straight-A Club."
 
The expectations on the Wildcats are always high when it comes to class work. But this year's team was not considered a major NCAA Championship threat when the season started.
 
"What an accomplishment," said Chico State Head Coach Kim Sutton after the Wildcats were named the No. 5 seed in the seven-team West Region section of the NCAA Championship Tournament bracket Monday afternoon. "To be honest, I don't think any of us thought when the season started that this is where we would end up. But we've evolved a lot as a team."
 
With an inexperienced core, the Wildcats understood that expectations would be a bit lower than in past seasons. But the team's leadership had a simple thought: "Somebody has to win. Why not us?".
 
Then the Wildcats went out and won seven straight during a school-record 13-match unbeaten streak to start the season.
 
They enter the NCAA Championships with a record of 10-1-6, and ranked No. 22 in the nation.
 
With the dawn of the NCAA Championship Tournament, expectations on the Wildcats are fairly subdued once again. They'll face No. 4 seed Point Loma—champion of the Pacific West Conference with a record of 15-1-1—in an opening round match at noon at Triton Soccer Stadium.
 
The winner of that match will take on top-seeded UC San Diego Saturday at noon for a berth in the NCAA Championship Regional final, which amounts to the "sweet 16."
 
The odds look stacked against the Wildcats once again. But they don't care. After all, "Somebody has to win. Why not us?".
 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Chico State vs. Point Loma
Noon PDT, Triton Soccer Stadium, La Jolla
• Webcast: http://ucsdtritons.tv/
• LiveStats: http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats/v2/soccer/index.dbml?GAME_STAT_ID=3188885&db_oem_id=5800
• Tickets: Available at Triton Stadium on match day: $10 for general admission, and $5 for seniors (65+), students with valid identification, and youth (2-12). Children under two years of age are admitted free of charge. Parking will be free on Saturday only.
 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Chico State/Point Loma winner at UC San Diego
Noon PDT, Triton Soccer Stadium, La Jolla
• Webcast: http://ucsdtritons.tv/
• LiveStats: http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats/v2/soccer/index.dbml?GAME_STAT_ID=3188886&db_oem_id=5800
 
This marks Chico State's eighth NCAA Tournament berth and the seventh in the past 15 years.

Scouting the Opponents
Point Loma (15-1-1)—The Sea Lions have not lost since a season-opening 2-1 double overtime defeat at the hands of Western Washington at home. They've enjoyed winning streaks of 10 and five matches, with a scoreless draw at home against Dominican on Oct. 13 sandwiched in between.
 
Dominican is one of three common opponents Chico State and Point Loma share. Both teams also met Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Marcos this season.
 
Point Loma won 1-0 at Cal Poly Pomona and 1-0 at Cal State San Marcos in the second weekend of September.
 
Chico State beat Dominican 3-1 on Sept. 9, defeated Cal State San Marcos 1-0 on Oct. 25, and beat Cal Poly Pomona 3-2 on Sept. 30.
 
Chico State and Point Loma have never met on the pitch.