CHICO, Calif. — The Chico State men's soccer team lost to top-ranked Cal State LA 1-0 on Sunday at University Soccer Stadium.
A video-reviewed penalty kick awarded to the Golden Eagles in the 90th minute became the difference in the match.
The Wildcats (3-6-3, 0-3-3 CCAA) were limited to four shots and none on goal while facing 12 shots, with their goalkeeper credited with five saves.
Chico State finished with fewer attacking chances, taking four shots and none on goal, while the Golden Eagles (10-0-1, 5-0-1 CCAA) put six of 12 attempts on frame. Nickolas Molina recorded five saves for the Wildcats, and they came through multiple defensive stretches without conceding, including two sequences in which the Golden Eagles recorded three shots and two corner kicks.
A physical opening stretch featured six fouls between the fifth and 14th minutes, while Molina kept the Golden Eagles off the board with a save on Jose Mariscal's shot in the 10th minute before the Wildcats answered with Simon Vaca-Lorenzi's attempt off the right woodwork in the 15th minute. The Golden Eagles pushed again through the middle of the half, with Molina saving Angel Sandres' shot in the 19th minute and Geovanni Antuna hitting the top woodwork in the 24th minute as the visitors earned multiple corners. The Wildcats generated a later spell of pressure with a corner in the 36th minute and Darius Dukes' shot off the top woodwork in the 36th minute, and the half ended without a goal.
The 'Cats worked through an early stretch of fouls and chances in the second half, with Nathan Murff recording a shot in the 55th minute and Manoa João Monteiro putting an attempt wide left in the 57th minute after the Golden Eagles had the first look of the half. Molina kept the match scoreless in the 59th minute with a save on Felix Alverdale, and the Golden Eagles later pushed again with two corners and three shots between the 81st and 88th minutes, including Molina saves on Alverdale and Allan Rosales. After a Wildcats foul in the closing minutes, Emil Kischka converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute for the half's only goal. The penalty kick came after Cal State LA's bench asked for video review. The late sequence included multiple Chico State yellow cards, and the Golden Eagles carried the 1-0 score through the end of the second half.
Up next, the Wildcats hit the road for the next three matches, starting with CCAA newcomer Fresno Pacific on Friday, Oct. 9, at noon at Ramirez Field.
