With the heat wearing on them and their 2-0 cushion lulling them, Chico State's women's soccer players may have lifted their boots off the pedal just a smidge. That was also visiting Azusa Pacific needed. The unbeaten Cougars rallied to tie the match 2-2 Thursday night at University Soccer Stadium.
 
It was a result that in the end was disappointing for Chico State, now 2-1-2. This marked the first time in the Wildcats' last 14 matches they have allowed more than one goal. But the young team's draw against a veteran APU squad coming off an 11-win season was not a bad result from a big-picture perspective. The Cougars are now 2-0-2.
 
The Wildcats controlled the match early on and grabbed a 1-0 edge in the 13th minute. Piper Matson moved down the right flank on the dribble, working the ball all the way to the end line before playing a pass back to Mackenzie Gill. The two overlapped to create confusion and Gill gained more space with a shimmy in the corner before hitting a perfect cross to the top right corner of the six-yard box where Susanna Garcia waited and then rose to flick the ball on with a head and inside the far post.
 
Garcia's goal was her second of the season and the 17th of her career moving her to within four tallies of Chico State's all-time top 10 list.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the Wildcats struck early in the second half. Natalie Mendoza set up the second goal. After dribbling into traffic and losing the ball momentarily, she remained engaged. And when a defender turned her back to play a ball backward, Mendoza sprung, sprinting and to catch up to the ball and then sliding to win it. She poked the ball ahead to the PK spot. Gill sprinted to get there first and rip a shot inside the right post. It was her first goal of the season and the third of her career.
 
The Cougars out-shot Chico State 9-3 in the match's final 43 minutes, however, and earned seven corner kicks.
 
Mendoza finished with three shots on goal to lead the Wildcats, while Garcia got off a pair. Wildcats goalkeeper Emma Hofmann made four saves.
 
The Wildcats host Biola (1-3-1) Saturday at 12:30. Prior to that match, Cal Poly Humboldt and Azusa Pacific will lock horns at 10 a.m.