Chico State Athletics - Sward, Wildcats cut through 12th-ranked WWU

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Sward, Wildcats cut through 12th-ranked WWU

Lisa Webster tallied Chico State's first goal of the season and also dished out an assist.

8/28/2009 11:28:17 PM

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Ali Sward scored a pair of goals and added an assist and Lisa Webster notched a goal and an assist as the Chico State women's soccer team opened its 2009 campaign in style with a 3-1 win at 12th-ranked Western Washington Friday night at Orca Field on the Whatcom Community College campus. The Wildcats handed the Vikings, ranked No.12 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II National Preseason Poll, just its second loss in the last 17 home matches

Webster opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing from 14 yards after a pass from Sward split the Western defense.

The Vikings equalized eight minutes later, as midfielder Kasey Hostetler scored from 15 yards, striking a cross from defender Keller Haden that took a high bounce near the top of the penalty area.

Ali Sward opened her senior season with two goals and an assist.

But Sward gave the Wildcats the lead for good in the 29th minute, collecting a loose ball just outside the penalty area and slotting the ball low into the left corner. It gave Chico State a 2-1 halftime lead.

Sward added an insurance goal with just under 15 minutes left. Webster played Melissa Pease down the right side, and Pease hit a low cross for Sward, who scored from six yards out.

Goalkeeper Natalie Bensky had six saves for Chico State. Jamie Arthurs had two saves for Western.

It was the first season-opening loss for Western since 2005, and the first loss in a home opener for the Vikings since 2003. Western, which reached the Far West Region final of the NCAA II National Tournament last year, plays its first seven contests at home this season.

Chico State takes on Simon Fraser University of Canada Sunday morning before returning to Northern California for its home opener against Western Oregon on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 PM,

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Wildcats of the Week

Brian Beeman

Men's Track

As a decathlete, Brian Beeman is used to running all over the place. But he took it to a new level last week. After competing in the decathlon, high jump and javelin to help lead the Chico State men’s track & field team to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship March 6-8, he got on a bus and arrived back in Chico in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Then, he turned around to head back to Southern California for the Claremont Classic Decathlon and turned in an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark and personal best score of 6,512 on Thursday and Friday.

That iron-man feet has earned him Wildcat of the Week honors.

Beeman finished sixth at the Burns Track and Field Complex while logging the 15th best score in the nation this year. He won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:31.75, placed third in the 400-meter dash (51.19 seconds) and tied for third in the high jump (6-feet-02.75).

Beeman and a number of his Wildcats teammates now await Wednesday morning’s NCAA Track and Field Championships selection show to found out if he’s earned a berth to the National Championships May 27-29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kacie McCarthy

Softball

Kacie McCarthy’s freshman season as a Wildcat has been filled with highlights, but the Shingletown native turned in her most memorable performances of the year last weekend in the NCAA West Sub-Regional at Sonoma State, posting three straight victories and helping Chico State advance to the West Super Regional in Hawaii. The Wildcats are just two wins away from reaching the Division II College World Series, thanks in large part to the pitching prowess of McCarthy, who is the latest recipient of Wildcat of the Week honors.

In Friday’s Sub-Regional opener, McCarthy took over for Chico State starter Jessica McDermott and tossed seven-and-a-third innings of relief, striking out a career-high 11 batters and earning the win as the Wildcats beat 15th ranked Grand Canyon University 5-4 in eight innings. In Saturday’s winner’s bracket game versus No. 14 Sonoma State, McCarthy twirled a one-hit shutout in Chico State’s 7-0 victory over the host Seawolves. Sunday McCarthy completed the postseason trifecta, going the distance for the 18th time this year and getting credit for the “W” as the ’Cats rallied back from three runs down to score four times in the bottom of the sixth inning and pull out a 4-3 victory over Dixie State to sweep through the Sub-Regional and advance to this weekend’s West Super Regional.

McCarthy, now 16-10 on the season, lowered her season ERA to 1.92 with the three weekend wins and is ranked third among California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) pitchers. She also is sixth in the conference in victories and innings pitched (164.1). She leads the Wildcats in wins, complete games, innings pitched and appearances (29).

Chico State takes on the No. 3 ranked Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific Friday at 5 p.m. Pacific time in the opener of the West Super Regional in Kaneohe, Hawaii. The winner of the best-of-three set will advance to the Division II College World Series May 27-31 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

7.20.10 | Women's Soccer

Mid-season showdown with Dominguez Hills at University Soccer Stadium highlights women’s soccer schedule

How rough and tumble is the Chico State women’s soccer team’s annual California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule? Let’s put it this way: Cal State Dominguez Hills played in the NCAA Championship final last season following a less-than-spectacular 11-5 record in the CCAA.

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6.21.10 | Women's Soccer

Women’s soccer team recognized for success on the field and in the classroom

The afterglow of the Chico State women’s soccer team Sweet 16 run in 2009-10 just keeps getting better. With a roster full of not only stellar athletes, but scholars as well, Head Coach Kim Sutton’s women recently received a pair of postseason honors.

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1.18.10 | Women's Soccer

Bensky and Perlman honored by Jewish Sports Review

LOS ANGELES – After a stellar postseason run in 2009, including the first NCAA Championship Tournament victory in the history of the program, the Chico State women’s soccer team has received two more individual honors. Senior goalkeeper Natalie Bensky and junior forward Ashley Perlman were both selected as Jewish All-Americans by the Jewish Sports Review in its January/February 2010 edition.

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1.7.10 | Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer

Annual Men's and Women's Soccer 7-vs-7 Tournament dates announced

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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11.30.09 | Women's Soccer

Sward, Downtain garner NSCAA Far West All-Region honors

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – It’s there’s such a thing as hitting a postseason awards trifecta, Chico State’s Ali Sward has officially accomplished the feat. On the heels of earning All-CCAA First Team honors and an NCAA/Daktronics All-West Region First Team selection, the Wildcats’ senior midfielder was named Monday to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Far West All-Region First Team. Sward’s teammate, sophomore defender Molly Downtain, was also honored as an NSCAA Far West All-Region Second Team selection.

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11.18.09 | Women's Soccer

Kearney nets Wildcat of the Week honors (and first collegiate goal)

Freshman defender Christine Kearney converted on a penalty kick shootout to help lift the Chico State women's soccer team into the NCAA Championship Tournament's second round for the first time in the history of the program, and then two days later, notched her first collegiate goal. She's been named a Wildcat of the Week.

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11.17.09 | Women's Soccer

Another award for Sward – Ali named to Daktronics/NCAA All-West Region First Team

CHICO – Chico State women’s soccer midfielder Ali Sward, already an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) First Team selection, received another well-deserved accolade Tuesday – the Wildcats’ leading scorer for the just-completed 2009 season was among 13 players named to the Daktronics/NCAA Division II All-West Region First Team.

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