Box Score
CHICO — Calls did not go the Warriors way Wednesday night as the Cal State Stanislaus women's soccer team dropped another one-goal decision on the road, this time to Chico State.
Ali Sward scored twice, including a controversial game-winner five-and-a-half-minute into the second overtime period, to lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over the Warriors.
Chico State, ranked No. 4 in the West, improved to 4-2-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Warriors dropped their third straight one-goal match in six days on the road and fall to 4-3-0 overall and 0-3-0 in the CCAA.
"I am so proud of our team. We not only battled the entire game, we played terrific soccer," CSUS head coach
Gabriel Bolton said.
With the match tied at 1-1 late in the first overtime period, Stanislaus freshman
Apryl Whitney was chopped down in the box with four seconds remaining that would have set up penalty kick. Instead, there was no foul call.
Then, a little more than five minutes into the second extra time, Sward scored the winner despite being offsides.
"Officials are human and the bottom line is we can't allow officials to determine the outcome," Bolton said. "The defenders did everything they were supposed to in that situation."
Chico State goalkeeper Natalie Bensky, the CCAA player of the week, was challenged early.
Marissa Dunaway gave the Warriors an early 1-0 lead when she beat Bensky at 7:19.
Lisa Garcia was credited with the assist on the play.
The score held up until the second half when Sward tied it at 70:59.
The tough stretch of matches to start the conference season continues on Friday when the Warriors host UC San Diego. Already played three in six days on the road, Stanislaus hosts two matches this weekend. Kickoff against UC San Diego is at 7 p.m.
"We are looking forward to playing at home on Friday in the Grand Opening against a terrific opponent," Bolton added.
Cal State Stanislaus is celebrating the Grand Opening of the Student Recreation Complex, including Warrior Stadium, on Friday.
