ARCATA, Calif. — The Chico State women's soccer team entered the final day of the regular season controlling its own path to the CCAA Tournament. By the end of a dramatic Decision Day across the conference, that path had closed.
The Wildcats fell 2-1 to Cal Poly Humboldt on Thursday, with the Lumberjacks scoring the eventual game-winner in the 66th minute. Combined with victories by UC Merced, Stanislaus State and Cal State Monterey Bay elsewhere in the conference, the result brought Chico State's 2026 season to an end.
With every CCAA women's soccer match kicking off at 11 a.m., Chico State knew a victory would guarantee a place in the conference tournament. Instead, the Wildcats finished their first season under head coach Halle Meadows 7-7-4 overall and 6-3-4 in CCAA play for 22 points, placing eighth in the conference standings and narrowly missing the postseason.
For the second straight year, Cal Poly Humboldt played a role in ending Chico State's championship aspirations. The Lumberjacks (7-6-6, 5-4-4 CCAA) held the Wildcats to a draw in the 2025 regular-season finale, preventing Chico State from claiming the CCAA regular-season championship outright.
It is the second straight season the Lumberjacks (7-6-6, 5-4-4 CCAA, 19 points) have spoiled the Wildcats. Last year, Cal Poly Humboldt played Chico State to a draw and held the Wildcats from raising a CCAA championship banner.
Down 1-0, Chico State got a game-tying goal from Makayla Quesada, who finished with two shots and one on frame. Olivia Hohnstein recorded an assist and led the Wildcats with three shots. Charlotte Mailer played all 90 minutes in goal and made four saves.
Chico State generated early pressure with a corner in the seventh minute and a Hohnstein shot moments later. The Lumberjacks pushed back with a corner and a Heidie Munoz shot off the left woodwork before Munoz scored from Hayden Anderson in the 10th minute for a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats looked for a response through two Gabby Starr shots, including one saved by Ariana Beddoes, while Mailer kept the margin at one with a save on Charlotte Alvarez in the 29th minute. Baylee Gregerson hit the top woodwork in the 37th minute, and the 'Cats added a Hohnstein shot, a corner and a Malia Bell attempt in the closing stretch before the Lumberjacks took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
After the Lumberjacks earned two corners in the opening minutes of the second half, the Wildcats tied the match at 1-1 in the 50th minute when Quesada scored off Hohnstein's assist. Chico State added a Natalie Nevarez shot and a corner later in the half, but Anderson scored for the Lumberjacks in the 66th minute to put the home side back in front, 2-1. Mailer kept the 'Cats within one with three saves over the next nine minutes, and the Wildcats pushed late with shots from Yulisa Reyes, Quesada and Hohnstein between the 80th and 86th minutes. The Lumberjacks did not allow another goal and held on for the 2-1 final.
