SEASIDE, Calif. — The Chico State soccer team tied Cal State Monterey Bay 1-1 on Sunday, getting a 70th-minute goal from Baylee Gregerson after Juliana Dow scored for the Otters in the 13th minute.
Dow scored off Ella Schug's assist to put the Wildcats behind 1-0. Gregerson brought Chico State level in the second half, heading in Gabby Starr's cross from the left side at the right post. It was Starr's first assist of the season.
Although the Wildcats (5-5-3, 4-1-3 CCAA) couldn't pick up the win, they managed to salvage at least a point to move into a tie for third place with five matches remaining.
The Wildcats finished with a slight edge in shot volume and accuracy, taking nine shots with four on goal while the Otters (5-2-5, 3-2-2 CCAA) had eight shots and two on frame. The teams were close in fouls, with Chico State committing six and the Otters seven, while the home side received all three yellow cards.
The Otters took the first two shots before Dow's opening goal. Chico State generated chances later in the first half, with Olivia Hohnstein and Gregerson taking shots before Hohnstein hit the top woodwork in the 21st minute and Malia Bell put an attempt on frame after a 31st-minute corner that Willow Baltazar saved. The closing stretch included five fouls from the 33rd to the 42nd minutes, and the Otters kept the 1-0 advantage through halftime.
The Otters put a shot on frame in the 55th minute, but Charlotte Mailer made the save. The Wildcats followed with a corner kick and shots from Gregerson, Aiyana Finley and Yulisa Reyes before adding two more corners by the 67th minute. Gregerson tied it in the 70th minute, with Starr crossing the ball from the left side and Gregerson heading it in on the right side of the goal post to make it 1-1.
The match tightened late with three Otters yellow cards and a Chico State foul between the 79th and 84th minutes, while both teams continued to generate chances. The 'Cats had a late corner in the 82nd minute, Finley forced a save in the 87th minute and another corner followed later in the 87th minute before the match ended tied 1-1.
Up next, Chico State visits Cal State San Marcos on Thursday at noon at The Cage in San Marcos.
