CHICO – Evan Armstrong headed home Ryan Nevarez’s long throw in with six-plus minutes remaining in the second overtime to lift the Chico State men’s soccer team to a thrilling 1-0 victory against Saint Martin’s at the Chico State Invitational Saturday night at University Soccer Stadium.
The teams were deadlocked in a scoreless match in the 104th minute of action when Nevarez took a throw in from the top of the penalty box extended. His line-drive toss went straight to the head of Armstrong, who fought off a taller defender to flick the ball on with the top of his head and into the back of the net for his second goal of the season. Both goals have come on headers for the generously listed 5-foot-9 senior forward.
Chico State improved to 2-0 with the win, while Saint Martin’s fell to 0-2.
In a match earlier in the day, Academy of Art held off CSU Monterey Bay for a 3-2 win.
Michael Keohane netted the shutout in goal for Chico State, collecting five saves in the process. Saint Martin’s goalkeeper Zac Lubin made three saves.
Saint Martin’s enjoyed a 12-10 advantage in shots, including 5-4 in shots on goal. The Wildcats took six corner kicks to Saint Martin’s three, however, and the only shot of the second overtime period was their game winner.
Chico State is back in action next Saturday, Sept. 5, in a key West Region showdown at Seattle Pacific. That begins a four-match road swing for the Wildcats, who return home on Wednesday, Sept. 16, for their CCAA home opener against Cal State Stanislaus.
BOX SCORE
Academy of Art 3, CSU Monterey Bay 2
Frankie Diaz, Mario Pineda, and Kyle Mannschrek each netted first half goals, two of which were assisted by Richard Luna, and Holy Names held off CSU Monterey Bay for a 3-2 victory in the Chico State Invitational Saturday night at University Soccer Stadium.
The Otters, playing their season opener, outshot Holy Names 13-4 in the second half, but Andrew Breault’s goal in the 88th minute was all they could muster after going to the half down 3-1.
Academy of Art (1-1) got on the board in the 11th minute when Diaz volleyed home Luna’s blast from 30 yards that ricocheted off the crossbar.
CSU Monterey Bay evened the match at 1-1 on Mario Khoury’s goal in the 17th minute. Nate Torricelli set the play in motion with a nice pass down the sideline to Max Brixey, who found Khoury at the top of the box. Khoury made a move to the outside, cut back in, and then buried a shot just inside the left post from 15 yards out.
Academy of Art retook the lead for good in the 27th minute on Mario Pineda’s chip over CSU Monterey Bay keeper Brenden Baca. Luna looped a pass to Pineda at the corner of the box, and when Baca hesitated for a moment before coming out to challenge, Pineda gained just enough time to chip a shot over his head and into the empty net.
The Urban Knights made it 3-1 in the 44th minute when Mannschreck beat a pair of defenders and blasted a shot off of the onrushing Baca. He deflected it, but right back to the foot of Mannschreck, who needed only to push it into the back of the net.
The Otters finished with an 18-9 advantage in shots, though each team notched seven shots on goal. Baca made a trio of saves, while his counterpart, Ian Sutherland, made five saves in his first start of the season.
CSU Monterey Bay and Saint Martin’s will wrap up the 2009 Chico State Invitational with a single match Monday at 11 AM.
