CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State men’s soccer team completed a rough home stand on the short end of a 2-1 final Sunday afternoon against Humboldt State in front of 540 Senior Day fans at University Soccer Stadium. It was the third straight setback for the ’Cats, who after starting the month of October with a convincing win over Cal State Monterey Bay, has gone 0-4-2 since.
The loss dropped Chico State to 7-7-4 on the season, and 4-6-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) North Division. Sunday’s win improved Humboldt State’s record on the year to 6-10-2 and 5-8-1 in conference play.
The Wildcats were aggressive from the opening whistle, spending most of the half on Humboldt State’s side of the pitch and firing five shots early in the contest. Chico State was the first to get on the board when, in the 25th minute, Kyle Crain connected on a penalty kick (his third goal of the season), sliding a shot between the left post and the outstretched arms of Lumberjacks goalkeeper Kyle Verle to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Humboldt State answered later in the half, as Peter Darquea knocked in a header off a Scott Mariani cross in the 39th minute to knot up the score at one apiece.
Chico State’s offense continued to be aggressive in the second half, again outshooting Humboldt State and spending a good portion of time in front of the Lumberjacks goal, but the Wildcats were unable to boot the ball home. Humboldt State delivered what turned out to be the match winner in the 61st minute, when a Lloyd Sinclair cross found Roland Demombynes, whose six foot kick found the left side of the net to put the Lumberjacks in front 2-1. Chico State continued to pound the ball on the Humboldt State side of the field, but the Lumberjacks defense stiffened and shut out the ’Cats the rest of the way to grab the victory and even the season series.
Chico State outshot Humboldt State 10-5 on the afternoon, and held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
BOX SCORE
The Wildcats hit the road Friday for their next match, traveling to the Bay Area to take on San Francisco State. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m.
