TURLOCK — So what the Warriors were out-shot by a two-to-one ratio. In the end, the final score is what mattered as Stanislaus State held-off PacWest favorite Fresno Pacific, 2-1, Monday night.
Stan State goalkeeper
Haley Crook (Modesto/Davis HS) labored to earn nine saves — many of them spectacular — against the constant attack from the Sunbirds to lead the team to its seventh straight win at Warrior Stadium.
Stanislaus State began the 2018 season 3-0. It's the third straight year that the Warriors start the season with three consecutive wins. They are 10-0-2 since the start of the 2017 season. Their last loss was Nov. 4, 2016 (1-0 vs. UC San Diego).
Mayah Chambers (Modesto/Enochs HS) scored an amazing goal and
Ilena Rivera (Manteca/East Union HS) netted another — her third in two matches — to lead the offense despite being out-shot 19-9.
The first Stan State goal came in the 64th minute when a FPU defender cleared it back to the goalkeeper. As the goalie kicks away, Chambers intercepted the ball and high-arched the shot in as she falls back for the goal.
Rivera's goal came 10 minutes later, set up by
Jaydn Bush (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) and Chambers.
Crook, Stan State's current record holder in saves percentage, saved nine of 10 shots on goal on the night. Her nine-save night matches her career high set back on Sept. 25, 2016 against Sonoma State.
The Warriors will be on the road this weekend, playing two matches in Oregon. First they will take on Western Oregon in Monmouth, Ore., on Thursday before visiting Concordia-Portland on Saturday. Concordia, No. 19 in the United Soccer Association preseason poll, was picked to finish second in the GNAC after a 16-4-1 season.