CARSON, Calif. — The Chico State women's soccer team defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-0 on Friday to continue its best start to conference play.
While the third straight win improves Chico State to 4-0 overall, the Wildcats' 3-0 start to CCAA play is the best since the 2006 season. The Wildcats have yet to allow a goal since beginning the conference schedule. The last conceded goal was in the 48th minute against UCCS.
Additionally, Chico State remains undefeated against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the last 16 meetings, going 14-0-2 dating back to 2011.
The Wildcats outshot the Toros 17-4, including 8-1 on goal, while recording the shutout. Chico State recorded a season-high 17 shots in the game and achieved a season-high eight shots on goal.
Malia Bell scored the first goal on her lone shot and was credited with the game-winner. Gabby Starr scored her first goal of the season converting on a penalty kick. Yulisa Reyes added a goal on her only shot. Charlotte Mailer made only one save before handing off the goalkeeping duties to Lille Amies for the final minutes.
After an opening stretch with fouls by both teams, the Wildcats went in front in the eighth minute when Bell scored off Ava Jara's assist for a 1-0 lead. Cal State Dominguez Hills created the next chance on Betsy Lopez Rayas' shot over the bar in the eighth minute, then put pressure on with a Hannah Allen shot that was blocked in the 20th minute and a corner kick in the 20th minute.
Chico State had Olivia Hohnstein force a Marlies Nauman save in the 23rd minute and Aiyana Finley miss high in the 28th minute, while the Toros added a Cynthia Ramirez shot wide left and corner kicks in the 29th and 32nd minutes without finding an equalizer.
The Wildcats closed the first half with Olivia Garcia's shot in the 39th minute, corner kicks in the 43rd and 44th minutes, attempts from Hohnstein and Hannah Yao between them, and another Hohnstein shot saved in the 45th minute before taking the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Chico State carried a 1-0 lead into the second half and generated chances early, with Baylee Gregerson taking two shots before Makayla Quesada forced a save from Marlies Nauman and Charlotte Mailer stopped Betsy Lopez Rayas in the 54th minute.
The Wildcats built another stretch around a 71st-minute corner, with Finley missing wide before Reyes scored from Gregerson's assist in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0. After Jara was denied in the 78th minute, Starr converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute to extend the lead to 3-0, and the match closed with four fouls from the 83rd through 90th minutes as the Wildcats finished off the 3-0 result.
Up next, Chico State visits Cal State San Bernardino at 2 p.m. Sunday at Premier Field.
