CARSON, Calif. — Chico State struck first and made a late push Friday afternoon, but defending CCAA champion Cal State Dominguez Hills held off the Wildcats 3-2 at Toro Stadium.
The loss dropped Chico State to 3-4-2 overall and 0-1-2 in CCAA play. Cal State Dominguez Hills improved to 3-3-3 overall and 1-1-1 in conference action.
Caleb Gordon put the Wildcats on top in the 22nd minute, finishing an assist from Nathan Murff for his first goal of the season. The goal gave Chico State a 1-0 advantage at the 21:20 mark.
The Toros responded quickly.
Jose Peredia pulled Cal State Dominguez Hills even at 25:56 off an assist from Lucas Galarza. Less than four minutes later, Aldair Marta scored off an Amaury Sanders assist to give the Toros a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute.
Chico State goalkeeper Nickolas Molina helped keep the Wildcats within striking distance during a first half in which the Toros generated 10 shots. Molina made three saves before halftime, including stops on Amaury Sanders, Peredia and Juan Calderon.
Cal State Dominguez Hills extended the lead shortly after the break. Nathan Hernandez Ohrn scored at 47:05, with Sanders picking up his second assist of the match, to push the Toros' advantage to 3-1.
The Wildcats continued to press and pulled one back late.
After Jovan Radovic forced goalkeeper Tiago Menezes into a save in the 81st minute, Cooper Stephens cut the deficit to one with 4:05 remaining. Ricardo Ramos-Torres provided the assist as Stephens scored his first goal of the season to make it 3-2.
Chico State could not find the equalizer before the final whistle.
The Toros finished with a 15-9 advantage in shots and put seven attempts on goal compared with three for the Wildcats. Cal State Dominguez Hills also held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. Molina made four saves in 74 minutes, 17 seconds before Pierce LaVine closed out the final 15:43 without allowing a goal.
Gordon and Stephens accounted for Chico State's two goals, while Murff and Ramos-Torres each recorded an assist. Radovic joined the two Wildcat goal scorers with a shot on frame.
The Wildcats will head towards the Inland Empire to play eighth-ranked Cal State San Bernardino for a 11 a.m. kickoff on Sunday.
