LA JOLLA—No team in the history of the Chico State women's soccer team has been tougher to beat than the 2018 Wildcats, nor are there any that can match their 13-game unbeaten streak that began the season. But once the NCAA Championship Tournament rolls around, teams on historic runs often face others with similar stories. The Wildcats ran into such a team Friday. And only one could survive and advance.
 
Point Loma had gone unbeaten and allowed only two goals in its 16 preceding matches heading into its matchup with Chico State in the opening round of the West Regional in La Jolla on the campus of UC San Diego. The Wildcats got on the board against the Sea Lions on Erin Woods' 13^th-minute equalizer, but a late penalty kick proved to be the difference in Chico State's 2-1 loss.
 
It marked just the second loss of the campaign for the Wildcats, who finished a stunning season with a record of 10-2-6.
 
"We've come so far," said Wildcats Head Coach Kim Sutton. "We weren't sure what the season was going to be like for us. Why not us is something our seniors kept emphasizing. And we said that if we just keep fighting we can accomplish a lot. That's all been the seniors and it's really been a fun ride.
 
"We had some really glorious moments this year. It's been a fantastic journey."
 
Chico State's two losses are the fewest absorbed by a team in the program's history. In fact, no other Wildcats team had lost fewer than four times prior to this season.

 

"The beginning of this year we had no idea which way it was going to go," senior defender Jamie Ikeda said. "I am so proud to have finished my career with this team as a Wildcat.
 
"It was a surreal moment that our soccer career came to an end. But it was a good run."
 
The Wildcats accomplished much more than most expected. Picked to finish fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association by the conference's coaches in the preseason, they nearly won the conference title, falling a single point shy and finishing second. They beat NCAA Tournament sides UC San Diego (currently ranked No. 6 in the nation) and rival Sonoma State along the way, and played to a scoreless draw against Colorado School of Mines, which entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 4 in the nation.
 
Chico State entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed in the West. No. 4-seed Point Loma, which improved to 16-1-1, won the Pacific West Conference title in dominating fashion.
 
The Sea Lions dropped their season opener, but have not lost since and had outscored their previous 16 opponents by a combined 27-2, posting 14 shutouts along the way.
 
But it was the Wildcats who played the aggressor following Thursday's opening kickoff. They had three promising chances early before the Sea Lions struck suddenly on their first shot of the match, a laser from the top of the box by Ashlee Smith.
 
The Wildcats answered quickly. Abbie Jones and Susanna Garcia assisted on senior Erin Woods' equally impressive strike from the top of the box into the lower-right netting.
 
"We had them on their heels at the beginning of the game, and then of course as soccer goes, they come down and score on us," said Sutton. "It was a wakeup call for us and we put it together to get a really nice goal from Erin, really well placed."
 
The two formidable defenses settled in after that. And Chico State goalkeeper Brenna Meier made a magnificent save in the 71^st minute to keep the match tied.

 
It looked as though the Wildcats might be playing overtime for the eighth time this season. Instead, a hand-ball in the box was whistled on the Wildcats following an 86^th-minute cross. Meier guessed the right direction, but PacWest Conference Player of the Year Julia Glaser struck a strong penalty into the side netting for the match winner.
 
"We gave them a run for their money for sure," said Chico State senior captain Devon Morones.
 
"It's painful for sure," said Sutton. "That's just unlucky that a cross hits a kid like that. It's just soccer. It's not the way you want to go down for sure. I was looking forward to some more minutes of it, to be honest.
 
"I just couldn't be happier with our effort. It's painful. But I'm so proud of this team."
 
Morones, Woods, Ikeda, Meier, Juliana Los, and defender Korie Bozart all played their final match in a Chico State uniform.
 
"It's been the honor of a lifetime to lead this team," Morones said. "People thank us a lot for our leadership. But in all reality, we have to thank them for allowing us to lead them. Leaving our careers as back-to-back NCAA teams we leave our legacies behind, but we definitely leave the team in good hands. People definitely need to watch out for Chico State from here on out."