When I sat in Chico State head women's soccer coach Kim Sutton's office nearly three months ago—just days before she would announce that 2025 would be her 25th and final season—she made one thing clear: this would be no ceremonial victory lap.
Though outside expectations were low, Sutton said her sole focus was on getting the best out of her team, which had been picked to finish 10th in the CCAA preseason poll. She was adamant the season would be about her players, not her.
It turns out the coach who has spent most of her life in the game was onto something the rest of the conference observers weren't. The Wildcats defied expectations, coming within one win of the program's first CCAA Tournament title since 2007 and reminding everyone just how special Chico State women's soccer can be.
It was an amazing run—fueled by veterans refusing to fade quietly, newcomers growing up fast, and a team rallying around its legendary coach.
It took some time for things to come together before Sutton's group found its rhythm in October. The team started the season in Hilo, Hawaii, using the trip to bond but leaving the islands without scoring a goal. Their uneven non-conference stretch continued, and the Wildcats sat at 3-4-2 after a disappointing Senior Day loss to Cal State San Marcos on October 5.
Then, on October 10, the Wildcats shocked the West Region. They went down to Cal Poly Pomona and made an early goal from Malia Bell stand up, defeating the nation's top-ranked, undefeated, and defending national champion Broncos 1–0. It marked the 'Cats' first-ever win over a No. 1 team in Division II history.
The Wildcats made sure the Pomona victory would be more than just a cool memory to share at weddings and reunions. They dropped the final game of the road trip to Cal State LA but then started scoring goals in bunches. A five-game unbeaten streak pushed them into the top tier of the CCAA standings.
With a postseason berth secured, the Wildcats had two chances to wrap up the regular-season title but couldn't hold late leads against Cal State East Bay or Cal Poly Humboldt. Both matches ended in draws, leaving Chico State as the conference runner-up behind Pomona.
The awards piled in, a fitting reward for a team that defied predictions. Sutton was named CCAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time—a tribute to both her legacy and the magical run her players delivered. Senior Hannah Pieri capped her brilliant Chico State career with first-team All-CCAA honors after scoring in three straight matches and setting up four more goals with her relentless pace and precision. Senior Taylor McMahon, freshman Makayla Cruz-Martinez, and sophomore Gabby Starr each earned second team recognition—McMahon as the team's leading scorer and set-piece weapon, Cruz-Martinez as one of the CCAA's brightest young forwards, and Starr as the steady defender anchoring a rebuilt back line. Senior Klayre Barres, the team's emotional leader, earned the CCAA Elite 13 Award for her excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
The postseason brought even more drama. Chico State rallied from a 1–0 deficit in the CCAA Tournament semifinal against Stanislaus State, with Cruz-Martinez scoring in the 82nd minute and again in overtime to seal a thrilling 2–1 win. That victory sent the Wildcats to the CCAA Tournament final for the first time in more than a decade and gave Sutton one more chance to lift a trophy.
In Sunday's title match, the Wildcats again faced Cal Poly Humboldt—the same team they had drawn 3–3 with just 10 days earlier in Sutton's home finale. This time, the magic finally ran out. Humboldt capitalized on a second-half opportunity and held on for a 1–0 win, ending Chico State's storybook season one step short of a championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Despite the sting of the loss, Sutton's final season will be remembered will be remembered as one of the most joyful and inspiring campaigns in Chico State Athletics history.
