BELLINGHAM, Washington—The Chico State men's soccer team surely learned a lot on its season-opening road trip. First and foremost, the Wildcats appear to have packed a very stingy defense for the trip. They are hoping their offense comes to life now when they open their home campaign with a pair of matches at University Soccer Stadium this week.
The Wildcats wrapped up their trip to Washington with a 1-0 loss at Western Washington University Saturday night. They opened it with a scoreless draw Thursday at Seattle Pacific and return home with a record of 0-1-1. Western Washington is now 1-1-0, having played to a 0-0 tie against Sonoma State in its season opener Thursday.
Chico State actually out-shot Western Washington 10-8 and earned a 7-4 edge in corner kicks. The Wildcats have allowed only 19 shots, including seven on goal, in their first two matches.
Luis Albarran made a pair of saves following his clean sheet Thursday. He was not given much of a chance to stop the Vikings' lone goal. It came after the Chico State defense suffered a rare lapse in judgement. While waiting for a hand ball call in the closing seconds of the first half—a call that never came—they allowed Western Washington's Ryan Rotter to sneak into space behind the last wing defender. Dakota Stamnes spotted him and slotted him in behind the defense. Rotter did the rest, attacking the near post and depositing a point-blank attempt into the near upper V.
Kameron Kascht notched two shots on goal and Miles Rice had the other for Chico State. Kascht had a try from 20 yards saved and back-heel attempt from in close poked clear of danger by a defender. In perhaps their best chance of the second half, Owen Vasta played a beautiful ball over the keeper toward the far post and Rice volleyed it from in close range, but the Western Washington keeper was positioned well to corral it.
The loss snapped Chico State's four-match win streak against the Vikings. The Wildcats will open their home campaign Thursday at 7 p.m. versus Saint Martin's at University Soccer Stadium.
