This time the Wildcats finished it early.
 
The Chico State women's soccer team squandered a number of promising early opportunities in a 1-0 victory against Dominican University of California Thursday night. The Wildcats had no such trouble in a 4-0 win against Holy Names University Saturday night at University Soccer Stadium.
 
Abbie Jones, Marissa Martin, and Cody Johnson netted first-half goals and Chloe King struck in the second half as the Wildcats peppered the Hawks with 25 shots, including 15 on goal. Both totals were the highest since they had 31 shots, including 16 on goal, against Seattle Pacific a year and eight days ago. The goals were the first at the collegiate level for Martin, Johnson, and King.
 
Now 3-1 on the season, the Wildcats have won three in a row since dropping their season opener at Colorado School of Mines, which has since risen to No. 7 in the national rankings.
 
During that three-match stretch, Chico State has outscored the opposition by a combined 7-1.
 
According to Wildcats head coach Kim Sutton, the Wildcats' struggles against Dominican could be traced back to decision-making in the attacking third. She felt they needed to make one more pass instead of settling for the shots they were taking.

 

They must have listened. Saturday night's passing was spectacular.
 
Susanna Garcia set up Jones' second goal of the season with a tremendous run down the right flank. She pushed past a defender with the dribble, and upon nearing the end-line, slipped a pass up toward the penalty spot. Jones had time to trap the ball, settle, and slam a shot off the bottom of the crossbar. The ball bounced down and back into play but was ruled to have crossed the goal line by the referee.
 
On the Wildcats' second goal, Kyra Greenwood put the Wildcats on the attack with a well-timed pass that put Sarah Emigh into space running straight at the goal from the midline. Emigh attacked deep enough to draw the defenders to her and then pushed a pass out left to Martin. The true freshman took a touch and then beat the keeper high just inside the left post.
 
As far as results go, the best pass of the night belonged to Johnson. Her attempted cross from deep in the box deflected off the keeper and in. Jordan Doukakis set things up with a rocket from the top-left corner of the 18-yard box toward the far post. The Holy Names keeper dove and deflected it wide, but Johnson pounced on it. Attempting to push it across the mouth of the goal with the goalkeeper out of position, Johnson instead knocked the ball off the goalkeeper and in.
 
Greenwood was involved in the final goal of the night as well, slipping a pass to King behind the defense. With only the charging goalkeeper to beat, King calmly rolled her shot inside the left post.
 
Goalkeepers Victoria Graham and Maddie Gonzalez shared the shutout after Graham was subbed out in the 35^th minute. Graham made a trio of saves and Gonzalez—a true freshman—made two in her collegiate debut. In all, 24 different Wildcats played and had a hand in the shutout.
 
The Wildcats are next in action Thursday night at home against Azusa Pacific. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.