CARSON—The Chico State men's soccer team gave 25
th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills all it could handle Sunday but fell just short of the result it was looking for in a 1-0 loss in Carson. The Toros' 61
st-minute strike proved to be the lone goal of the match.
Cal State Dominguez Hills had the hottest offense in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) entering the match, having scored 11 goals (at least three each time out) during a three-match winning streak. The Wildcats slowed the Toros, but could not quite stop them completely, allowing only six shots on goal. Chico State slipped to 2-8-0 overall and 1-3-0 in the CCAA. Cal State Dominguez Hills is now 6-1-1 overall and 4-0-0 in conference play.
The Wildcats nearly opened the scoring on a couple of occasions. Midway through the first half, a cross was deflected by a defender in the box that Jacob Chong was able to volley, leaping with his back to the goal, and put on frame. However, the Toros keeper went low to smother it. A gorgeous kick save by Wildcats goalkeeper Luis Albarran just over a minute later kept the match level.
Ben Souza nearly staked the Wildcats to a lead early in the second half, sneaking unmarked to the far post where Mauro Rafael found him for a dangerous opportunity. Souza had a tough angle but hit a blast with pace toward the far post that was parried away at the last moment.
Albarran made another great save five minutes later, going down to his knees to stone Sulaiman Bah right in front of the left post. But the Toros would not be denied. This time Bah passed, hitting a corner kick to the top of the six-yard box. David Aguilar came rushing in, and despite a 7-on-2 advantage around the 6-yard box, the Wildcats could not beat him to the ball. Aguilar's header flew straight over the head of Albarran and snuck just underneath the bar.
With the Toros now squarely focused on the defensive end, Chico State could muster only one more shot, a 72
nd-minute attempt by Miles Rice that was wide of the target.
The Wildcats are at Cal State East Bay Thursday at 7 p.m. and then return to University Soccer Stadium to take on Stanislaus State next Sunday at 2 p.m. That is also Pack the Pantry weekend—a tradition dating back to 2013. Fans are encouraged to bring donations for the Chico State Basic Needs Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry, a cause near and dear to the Chico State men's soccer team and Chico State Athletics.
