One of the Chico State men's soccer team's biggest victories of 2017, and undoubtedly its most thrilling, came at the expense of Western Washington. The Wildcats erased an early one-goal deficit, and with the match tied at 2, scored the golden goal with just 12 ticks remaining on the clock.
 
Clearly still feeling the pain of that loss, Western Washington visited Chico Saturday night with revenge on its mind. The Vikings again took an early lead in this one. And though the Wildcats threatened to equalize over and over, the equalizer never came this time in a 1-0 loss at University Soccer Stadium.
 
Chico State fell to 1-1, while Western Washington improved to 2-0.
 
Western Washington opened the scoring in the 32^nd minute. Georg Cholewa ripped a cross from near the right corner flag that sailed just high of an attacker at the near post before making its way to the far post where Stephen Jinneman dove to head it into the back of the net. Wildcats goalkeeper Damion Lewis, forced to cover that near-post attacker, did not have time to recover.
 
The Wildcats nearly drew even in the 38^th minute when Cooper Renteria cracked a shot from inside the box, but Vikings goalkeeper Brandon Wolter made the save.
 
They had another near miss in the 82^nd minute. Justin Bethke's athletic bicycle kick was flicked on by Fabian Roman with a header but it sailed just wide.
 
Chico State finished with a 13-4 advantage in shots and 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The Wildcats will be back in action at home Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against Concordia University of Portland. The Cavaliers will enter the match with a record of 1-0 following a dominant 2-0 victory over the University of Mary.