BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Chico State men's soccer team narrowly fell to Western Washington 3–2 to open the season on Thursday at Harrington Field.
The Wildcats held a 1–0 lead at halftime, but the Vikings rallied with three second-half goals to secure the victory, with two penalty kicks factoring significantly into the Wildcats' loss.
Darius Dukes, scoring the first two goals of his collegiate career, led the offensive effort for the Wildcats with his two goals and four shots. Adrian Solis contributed with an assist, further impacting the team's play. Nickolas Molina, in goal, made three saves despite facing 15 shots. Caleb Gordon added pressure with two shots on goal out of his three attempts.
The first half began with strong offensive play from the Wildcats. In the second minute, Dukes notched a goal with an assist from Solis, putting the 'Cats ahead 1–0. Western Washington's goalkeeper, Charlie Dyer, made several crucial saves, stopping shots from Gordon at 00:35 and again at 07:58, preserving the narrow deficit. Both teams exchanged fouls throughout the period, adding tension to the match. As the half concluded, the Wildcats maintained their 1–0 lead over Western Washington.
The Vikings took control early in the second period with a penalty kick goal by Edgar Serrano at the 46:34 mark. Zachary Richter received a yellow card prior to the penalty, setting the stage for Serrano's successful conversion. Lunden Fenster extended Western Washington's lead with a goal in the 52nd minute, making it 2–1. Serrano tallied again from the penalty spot in the 55th minute, furthering the home team's advantage to 3–1. Dukes narrowed the deficit with a goal in the 69th minute, but Western Washington held on to secure a 3–2 victory.
The Wildcats travel south to the Emerald City to face Seattle Pacific on Saturday at 1 p.m.
