CHICO, Calif. — The Chico State soccer team defeated Cal State East Bay 1-0 on Friday to begin the CCAA schedule.
Yulisa Reyes scored the game-winning goal and finished with three shots. It was Reyes' first goal of the season.
Chico State generated eight attacking actions from the 46th minute to the 59th minute in the second half, a stretch that began at 0-0 and ended with the Wildcats ahead 1-0.
Makayla Quesada led the Wildcats with five shots, including three on goal. Quesada registered a season-high in shot attempts. Baylee Gregerson recorded an assist and put two shots on goal. It was Gregerson's first assist of the season. Charlotte Mailer played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded a shutout with one save.
The Wildcats generated the first pressure of the half with a corner kick in the second minute and a Macyn Stewart shot that went high in the third minute. East Bay created the next stretch of chances, with Charlotte Mailer saving Taylor Hodges' shot in the 11th minute before Lillian Morris missed left in the 16th minute, and Olivia Hohnstein answered with a Chico State attempt wide high in the 18th minute.
The teams traded late looks as the first half settled in, including Quesada's shot high in the 37th minute, Jenna McDonnell's miss right in the 39th minute and Mia Cook's saved attempt in the 41st minute that led to a Wildcats corner. The Pioneers added two off-target shots in the final two minutes, and the half ended without a goal.
The 'Cats pressed early in the second half, taking five shots and earning two corners before the 55th minute, with Quesada and Gregerson each putting attempts on frame that Yvette Torres saved. The pressure produced the breakthrough in the 55th minute, when Gregerson crossed from the left side of the goal box and Reyes headed in on the right side to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Chico State kept creating chances after the goal, including saved shots from Gregerson and Quesada and a later attempt by Aiyana Finley that missed left. East Bay's late push included two Taylor Hodges shots, the first stopped by a team save in the 76th minute, before Torres saved another Quesada attempt in the 85th minute and the Wildcats finished off the 1-0 win.
Chico State recorded 14 shots in the game, surpassing its season average of 10.0. The 'Cats also achieved seven shots on goal, above their season average of 4.6.
The Wildcats wrap up the home stretch with CCAA newcomer Menlo visiting University Soccer Stadium Sunday. Kickoff is at 11 a.m.
