While Madison Noll and Susanna Garcia were scoring bangers, the Chico State women's soccer team was giving goalkeeper Emma Hofmann a deserved night off. Hofmann had made seven or more saves in three of her last four outings, but in Thursday's 2-0 victory against Cal State East Bay, she rarely handled the ball. Of the six shots the Pioneers produced, not a single one was on frame.
 
Meanwhile, the Wildcats banged out 20 shots (eight on goal) and enjoyed a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Their second corner of the night led to their first goal in the 12^th minute of the match. Mackenzie Gill took the kick and directed it near the PK spot. Noll started at the top of the 18 and snuck inside a few steps before ripping a waist-high volley into the top shelf from 15 yards. It marked Noll's first collegiate goal. The assist was Gill's team-leading third of the season and sixth of her career.
 
Chico State threatened to double its lead on numerous occasions, only to be denied by the strong play of Cal State East Bay goalkeeper Jordan Smith. But Smith could not stop Garcia's pin-point placement on her 58^th-minute strike.
 
The play began on a throw-in from Klayre Barres to Summer Baron near the top of the 18. Baron split two defenders with a short pass to Garcia, who was looping around in the opposite direction inside the box. Garcia took one touch into a small window and hit a perfectly-placed shot inches over the fingertips of Smith and inches under the crossbar. Garcia, who now has 18 career goals (and 10 assists), is only two points shy of matching Brenda Bell for 10^th on Chico State's all-time points list.
 
Hofmann is now alone in fourth with 16 career shutouts thanks to her sixth of the season and her eighth in 14 career home starts.
 
With the win, the Wildcats moved into a four-way tie for first place atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) table with Sonoma State, Cal State San Marcos, and Cal Poly Pomona. Chico State is 6-2-3 overall and 3-1-1 in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay fell to 2-6-3 overall and 0-4-1 in the CCAA.
 
The Wildcats will attempt to remain on top Sunday when they travel to face Stanislaus State in Turlock. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on the CCAA Network.