CHICO, Calif. — The Chico State men's soccer team lost to UC Merced 5-2 on Saturday at University Soccer Stadium.
Before kickoff, the Wildcats celebrated their lone senior, Liam Miller.
Chico State (3-10-3, 0-7-3 CCAA) finished with a 20-14 shot advantage and 11 corner kicks, but was held scoreless after halftime while the Bobcats (6-5-3, 5-5-0 CCAA) scored three times in the second half. The 20 shots were a season high for the Wildcats.
Chico State generated chances from Cooper Stephens and Jovan Radovic after an early Bobcats shot before Stephens scored in the 16th minute, finishing off a right-side corner with assists from Darius Dukes and Jack Shane for a 1-0 lead. Shane recorded his first assist of the season.
The 'Cats kept pressure on through the middle of the half, earning multiple corners and getting shots from Simon Vaca-Lorenzi, Braedyn Brown, Nathan Murff and others without adding on immediately.
Jacob Tyberg made it 2-0 in the 37th minute off Carter Haynes' service from the left side of the box, but the Bobcats answered when Christian Khanishian scored in the 39th minute.
Jose Ontiveros scored for the Bobcats in the 42nd minute, and the teams went into halftime tied 2-2.
With the match tied 2-2, the Wildcats generated the first sustained push of the second half, taking shots from Gage Harrison, Dukes, Vaca-Lorenzi and Radovic along with two corner kicks by the 52nd minute.
The Bobcats answered with pressure of their own, but Nickolas Molina saved attempts from Jose Vazquez in the 51st minute and Matthew Aldana in the 55th before Dukes put a shot on frame for the Wildcats in the 63rd minute.
The Bobcats moved in front in the 65th minute on an Ontiveros goal assisted by Ezekiel Cruz, then added another in the 67th when Vazquez scored off an Ontiveros assist to make it 4-2.
The 'Cats pushed again with two corners and saved shots by Manoa João Monteiro and Maverick Wilson between the 79th and 83rd minutes, but Daniel Gaona scored in the 84th minute and the Bobcats finished off the 5-2 result.
Chico State closes out the 2026 home schedule Thursday against its Highway 99 rivals Stanislaus State at 7 p.m.
