CARSON—Among the most successful and respected collegiate soccer coaches in the nation, Kim Sutton put down roots in Chico as soon as she arrived in 2001. She gave her heart to the Chico State soccer program and committed to serving the next generation of coaches. She's never searched out the limelight and attempts to avoid the big stage when possible.
Sometimes the big stage finds you. Sutton's record-breaking 187
th victory as Chico State's head coach came Friday night at the Dignity Health Sports Complex Main Stadium, home of the LA Galaxy.
Trailing 1-0 at intermission, the Wildcats scored twice in the final 25 minutes of a thrilling 2-1 win at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Now in her 19
th season at the helm, Sutton surpassed the only other coach in the program's history, Bob Russ, with Friday night's win.
This was her first time coaching at the Main Stadium in Carson. The Toros get to play one match a year there. This season it came in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener for both teams. Chico State improved to 5-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the CCAA while Cal State Dominguez Hills dipped to 1-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the CCAA.
The Wildcats threatened to score on a number of occasions in the first half, registering nine shots, including six on goal. But it wasn't until freshman substitute Emelie Peraza took her first shot of the night that they finally broke through.
A free kick did not result immediately in the goal, but it certainly set things up. Antonia Diaz attempted to connect with Camille Lidster at the near post on the restart but the ball was cleared by a defender back out to Diaz. She took control of it 30 yards out near the right sideline and quickly dumped it back into the box. Attempting to push forward, the Toros defense was caught out of position, leaving six Wildcats to crash the box against only three defenders. The ball landed near the PK spot and bounced on just before Chloe King and the keeper arrived at the spot and collided. Peraza was waiting and directed it softly inside the left post of the gaping net.
The first goal of Peraza's collegiate career came on her second collegiate shot and in her second match. The assist was the first of Diaz's collegiate career.
Two players on the opposite end of the spectrum teamed up on the match winner: senior Abbie Jones and the team's active career assists leader, Jordan Doukakis.
Doukakis directed her corner kick to Kyra Greenwood just inside the PK spot. But as Greenwood and a defender rose up for it, the ball sailed just over their heads and bounced off the turf. After sneaking around the backside of the defense unmarked, Jones was waiting just outside the left corner of the six-yard box. She hit a low volley back against the momentum of the defense and goalkeeper, who were trying to recover, beating the keeper toward the far post. The ball was cleared from the mouth of the goal by a defender but quickly ruled to have crossed the line for a score. It was Jones' seventh career goal, which is tied for the team lead, and Doukakis' 11
th career assist.
One last moment of drama remained when the Wildcats were whistled for a foul with seven second remaining and the referee stopped the clock. But Wildcats goalkeeper Victoria Graham tapped Kelly Almazan's try from 40 yards up and over the bar as time expired.
Graham finished with three saves in her return after missing two matches due to an injury.
The Wildcats will be back in action Sunday when they play at Cal State LA in a clash of two teams ranked among the top six in the West Region. Match time at University Stadium in Los Angeles is set for 2 p.m.
