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Wildcats suffer first home loss of the season as late goal gives Sonoma State 2-1 win
Josh Johnson netted his second goal of the season Friday, but it wasn't enough to keep the Wildcats from dropping a 2-1 decision to Sonoma State.
10/23/2009 11:52:54 PM
CHICO, Calif. – To say that Friday night’s match at University Soccer Stadium was physical and hard fought is certainly putting it mildly – in a contest that featured a combined 28 fouls and 10 yellow cards, the No. 8 Sonoma State Seawolves scored a goal in the 87th minute to escape with a 2-1 win over Chico State, as the Wildcats suffered their first home loss of the season and a big blow to the team’s postseason aspirations.
Friday’s loss dropped Chico State to 7-6-4 on the year and 4-5-4 in the CCAA, keeping the ’Cats in third place in the conference’s North Division. Sonoma State improved to 13-2-2 overall and 10-2-2 in the CCAA, clinching its sixth straight North Division title.
The Seawolves were aggressive from the opening whistle, taking nine shots in the first half and peppering Wildcats goalkeeper Michael Keohane with five shots on goal. Sonoma State made one of those shots count in the 31st minute as Taylor Jones kicked in his team-high sixth goal of the year, fielding a rebound off a blocked shot and booting the ball past Keohane from about three feet out. The Seawolves were able to maintain their 1-0 lead for the rest of the half.
Chico State pulled even in the second half when, in the 57th minute, Josh Johnson knocked in a header in front of the Sonoma State goal courtesy of a Nick Tedrow cross. As the half progressed, the play became extremely physical, as six yellow cards were handed out…and play was actually stopped by the officials in the 67th minute when tempers on both sides boiled over in front of the Seawolves’ goal. With less than three minutes to play in regulation, Sonoma State delivered what turned out to be the winning goal – Trevor Hurst received a cross in front of the Wildcats’ net from Cam Vickers and booted in a short shot off the right post to give the Seawolves a 2-1 advantage. Chico State was unable to answer in the waning moments, and Sonoma State came away with the victory.
The Seawolves outshot the Wildcats 15-13 on the night, and enjoyed a 7-1 advantage on corner kicks. Keohane racked up seven saves for Chico State, but the Wildcats lost for the third time in the last four matches and continue to look for their first win since October 2.
BOX SCORE
Chico State will try to salvage the finale of the weekend homestand Sunday as it takes on Humboldt State on Senior Day. The match is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m.
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Wildcats of the Week
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Women's Basketball
Before the 2009-10 even got underway, Chico State women’s basketball Head Coach Brian Fogel described junior guard Natasha Smith as “the key to our success.” Truer words have never spoken, as Smith has turned her already impressive game up a notch to lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional title game. Her efforts have netted the Sacramento native her third Wildcat of the Week honor this season.
Smith earned All-NCAA Championship Tournament West Region Team honors by averaging 14 points, 7.7 assists, five rebounds, and three steals per game during the Wildcats’ run to the Sweet 16 and West Region title game.
Friday against third seeded Western Washington, Smith scored 15 points, snared four rebounds, dished out five assists and made three steals as the Wildcats downed the Vikings 79-68. Saturday versus Humboldt State, the All-CCAA first team selection was even better, posting her second career double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, while hauling in a team-high eight rebounds and five steals in Chico State’s come-from-behind 86-76 victory over the Lumberjacks. Monday, in the regional title game against Seattle Pacific, Smith finished with 12 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and a steal while drawing the defensive assignment against Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year Daesha Henderson and limiting her to just five points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Smith, who led the CCAA in free throw percentage (.824) and assists (134), also led the ’Cats in scoring (11.5 points per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44). She continues to move up the Chico State career records ladder with each contest. With one year of eligibility still remaining, Smith ranks ninth all-time in scoring, sixth in assists, seventh in free throws and 10th in career steals and 3-pointers.
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Baseball
Chico State right fielder Adam Arakawa continued his torrid start to 2010 with four more multi-hit games, finishing 9-for-15, to lead the Wildcats to a series split a four-game series at Cal State San Bernardino over the weekend. The CCAA Player of the Week one week ago, he's been dubbed the Wildcat of the Week this week.
Arakawa doubled twice, scored six times, drove in three runs, and walked three times against San Bernardino. He also recorded the 100th hit of his career and has now registered two or more hits in eight straight games and 12 of the last 13 to raise his average to .493. He is hitting .633 over his past eight games and .571 over his last 13.
In Friday’s 8-5 victory, Arakawa went 2-for-5 and scored a run. He also singled in the 10th as the Wildcats scored three runs to win. He went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as the Wildcats dropped first game of a doubleheader Saturday. In the second game, Arakawa went 3-for-3 with a walk, double, run and two RBI. His third hit of that game was the 100th of his Chico State career. Arakawa finished the weekend by going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI in Chico State’s 20-5 win.
Arakawa leads the Wildcats in batting average (.493) hits (37), runs (33) walks (17) total bases (59), slugging percentage (.787) and on-base percentage (.581). His batting average and slugging percentage are both tops in the CCAA.
Arakawa was the West Region Gold Glove recipient last season and an Honorable Mention All-American, and has not committed an error in 44 chances this season.
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3.12.10 | Men's Soccer
CHICO – The 2010 Chico State Boys and Girls Youth Soccer Clink and Goalkeeper Clinic for ages 4-12 will take place at University Soccer Stadium Monday through Thursday, March 15-18. Cost is $100 per participant, $85 for returning campers, and $85 per person on teams of eight or more.
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2.4.10 | Men's Soccer
SAN JOSE – Former Chico State men’s soccer star Chris Wondolowski is going to tie up his cleats in the South Bay yet again in 2010. The San Jose Earthquakes has signed Wondolowski to play for the upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the club.
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1.7.10 | Men's Soccer
CHICO – The Chico State men’s soccer Alumni Weekend, featuring two days of soccer, golf, and fun, has been scheduled for March 27-28. Players and coaches from throughout the history of the program will join together to catch up and compete.
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1.7.10 | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
CHICO – The ever-popular Wildcat 7-vs-7 Soccer Tournament, hosted by the Chico State men’s and women’s soccer programs, will take place on May 1-2, 2010 at University Soccer Stadium. Everyone is invited to sign up with one or more teams. Men's and Women's Divisions include Open, Over 40, co-ed competitive, and co-ed recreational.
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11.18.09 | Men's Soccer
CHICO – Evan Armstrong was the go-to guy for Chico State men’s soccer in 2009, finishing first on the team in goals scored and total points, tying for most assists and providing three match-winning goals in the Wildcats’ just-completed season. His efforts have already been rewarded with an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) First Team selection, and Wednesday Armstrong was honored again with his inclusion on the NCAA/Daktronics Men’s Soccer All-West Region Second Team.
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11.5.09 | Men's Soccer
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – In his final year in the Chico State men’s soccer program, senior Evan Armstrong put up the best single season numbers of his career, leading the Wildcats in goals, assists and points. His impressive efforts were recognized Thursday when Armstrong was named to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Soccer All-Conference First Team.
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