SAN BERNARDINO—Sports can cause people to sprint to each other, embrace, and scream "let's go!" at the top of their lungs. They can also cause them to drop to their knees and hold their head in their hands. Agonizingly close to the first scenario only to see Cayden Hotaling's point-blank look from the PK spot deflect off the instep of the keeper and roll two feet wide, the Chico State men's soccer team's postseason came to a gut-wrenching end when Cal State San Bernardino scored the match winner with only 43 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
The Wildcats earned the No. 6 seed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament with a must-have decision day victory against Humboldt State Thursday. Few likely gave them much of a chance against the No. 3 seed Coyotes, who beat them 3-0 earlier this season and went 7-2-2 in conference play. But Chico State showed itself worthy of the postseason with its performance.
 
The Wildcats thought they had the lead on a 41^st-minute set-piece header but the player was whistled for offsides. It was a call the Wildcats disagreed with vehemently. They also nearly scored with five minutes to play when Liam Duerksen made a magical move into open space and then hit a cross that fell to Hotaling alone at the PK spot. His shot nearly went through the wickets of the goalkeeper but just kicked off his right instep and bounded just wide of the empty goal. 
 
Chico State finished its season 6-12-0, but the young team showed a ton of promise, especially down the stretch. The team ended the campaign on a four-match win streak at University Soccer Stadium.
 
Cal State San Bernardino is now 10-4-3 and headed to the CCAA Tournament semifinals at Cal State LA where they will face Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.