The Chico State women’s soccer team started on a climactic note with an amazing save by Brenna Meier within the first five minutes of play.
“It was kind of frustrating, you don’t want them to shoot,” Meier said. “I am just there as the last save but luckily they didn’t have great shots.”
The same story that has been going on all season continued as the Wildcats took the lead early in the first half at the 11th minute. Wildcat forward Erin Woods used a long service to her advantage, letting the ball take one bounce and headed it in over the goalkeeper.
“Our team is notorious for scoring and then keeping that 1-0 lead, so right when we scored we are all just like we got to keep it and go for another one,” Woods said.
The way Chico State possessed the ball throughout the first half showed the chemistry the team truly had. The Wildcats dominated possession but the few times San Marcos got their feet on the ball they accomplished to shoot a high total of seven shots.
This didn’t phase the Wildcats as they took the rest of the first half with ease, passing beautifully to one another. They ended the half on a high note still keeping the lead alive.
However the second half went down hill for Chico State’s possession numbers.
“They try to rattle you and try to get you to wack balls like they do and we did a little bit of that in the second half,” Coach Kim Sutton said.
San Marcos did not waste any time this half taking a total of 10 shots. While Chico State only managed to get two shots.
The second half got more physical when defender Alyssa Pigoni from the Cougars purposely stepped on Woods after an attempted shot, getting the first yellow card of the game. Seven minutes right after that midfielder Eilzabeth Maass from San Marcos pushed Meier in the box but there was no call on it.
This ignited Chico State and they started being more physical and driving the ball with more control but it seemed the Cougars were out looking to break ankles.
The last two minutes of the game play consisted of another yellow card to San Marcos.
“When we had moments to settle and play more our composed passing style, we didn’t and that hurt us a little bit,” Sutton said.
Although the Wildcats pulled through with a win, they are on the move of proving that they are not just a 1-0 winning team. Which won’t be easy as their next game is against the top ranked team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, UC San Diego.
The Tritons are the team to beat, they are scheduled to face off Oct. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at University Stadium.
Lucero Del Rayo can be reached at [email protected] or @del_rayo98 on Twitter.
