SAN BERNARDINO—Every effective coach insists that their most successful teams have been composed of players that understand their roles and take ownership of them. Early in her collegiate career, Chico State women's soccer player Devon Morones may not have always fully embraced the role given to her by Head Coach Kim Sutton. After all, the adjustment to collegiate soccer by 18 and 19-year-olds is rarely smooth sailing.
 
But over the past two seasons, Morones has evolved to become one of the strongest winds in the Wildcats' sails. In fact, the senior has become a leader among all of the student-athletes in the department, not just the ones who play women's soccer.
 
That growth has come despite the fact that Morones has not started a single match since her freshman season. Her role has become mostly that of an energizer (whether in a match as a substitute or calling out instructions or encouragement from the bench), team leader, and team captain.
 

So, when Morones opened the scoring in the Wildcats' 2-0 win at Cal State San Bernardino Friday with her first collegiate goal, it was an exciting moment for her, as well as her teammates, coaches, and the entire athletics department.
 
The way she scored will come as no surprise to those who have followed Morones' journey. She did most of her work far away from the action, outdueling her defender through a combination of anticipation and desire.
 
Sarah Emigh set the play in motion by winning the ball in the middle-third of the pitch and springing Jordan Doukakis with a quick pass in behind the defense. Doukakis dribbled aggressively toward the near post with only the goalkeeper to beat.
 
Not one to leave a teammate to do the work on her own, Morones provided support, bolting from her position on the far side of the field and making a run toward the opposite post. She kept the trailing defender at bey, and when the goalkeeper stepped out from the mouth of the goal to challenge Doukakis, the junior simply slipped a pass across the goal to Morones, who tapped it into the back of the net.
 
Morones' goal, which came just five minutes after she entered the match as a substitute, staked the Wildcats to a 1-0 lead in the 15^th minute that they would not relinquish on the way to their fourth consecutive win.
 
Chico State improved to 5-0-4 overall and 4-0-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and would tie the program record for consecutive matches without a loss Sunday with a win or tie at Cal Poly Pomona. The record of 10 was set in 1992.
 
Cal State San Bernardino slipped to 2-6-0 overall and 1-2-0 in the CCAA.
 
Bozart helped set up the second goal as well, this time earning credit for an assist on true freshman Paige Slusarek's first collegiate goal, which made it 2-0 in the 25^th minute.
 
Slusarek volleyed Bozart's looping cross back across the flow action and into the upper corner inside the near post.
 
The goals by Morones and Slusarek bring the total number of Wildcats who have at least one goal and/or assist in their past six matches to a dozen.
 
Chico State goalkeeper Brenna Meier made a magnificent diving save just eight minutes into the match and finished with three saves on the way to her fourth shutout in six starts. The Wildcats have registered five shutouts in their first nine matches.
 
ON DECK
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Chico State at Cal Poly Pomona
11:30 a.m. PDT, Kellogg Stadium, Pomona
• Webcast: https://broncoathletics.com/watch/?Live=20&type=Live
• LiveStats: https://broncoathletics.com/sidearmstats/wsoc