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.