CHICO– Even though the SF State Gators tied 1-1 with the Chico State Wildcats this evening, the Gators eliminated the Wildcats from the CCAA Soccer Championships which begin this Tuesday, November 3. With the tie, the Gators secured their second consecutive winning season since the 1979-1980 seasons. SF State finished the 2015 season with a 7-6-4 overall record and a 3-5-4 CCAA record.
This was the sixth match that SF State played this season that went into overtime and second consecutive match. SF State went 1-1-4 in those six matches including 0-1-4 in conference matches that went overtime.
Ashley Watson put the Gators on the board first as he connected on a long throw-in from
Robert Kelly in the 11
th minute of the match. This was Watson's third goal of the season.
Chico State looked like they were going to tie the match in the 21
st minute, but Ocatvio Murillo's shot attempt was blocked by the Gator defense. The Wildcats (7-6-4, 5-4-3 CCAA) had another chance in the 25
th inute, but the Gators'
Emmanuel Jimenez made one of his two saves on a shot on goal attempt by Esten Schroeder.
The Gators had a chance to double their lead but
Daniel Totays' shot went high over the crossbar in the 33
rd minute. Neither team recorded a shot attempt in the final 12 minutes of the half as SF State took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Chico State had another chance to tie the match one minute into the new half, but Jimenez recorded another save stopping Joshua Belda's shot on goal attempt. SF State drove down the pitch right after that attempt, but
Jordan Wusstig's shot attempt sailed high.
The Gators had another chance to double their lead in the 50
th minute, but
Jakob Velega's shot on goal attempt was stopped by the Wildcat defense off a corner kick by Watson.
Five minutes later, Matt Hurlow had three attempts to tie the match for Chico State with the third finally going past Jimenez to tie the score at 1-1 in the 53
rd minute.
It looked like the Gators were going to take the lead, but Kelly's shot hit the crossbar in the 58
th minute. They visitors had another attempt to take the lead in the 66
th minute, but Andrew Matthews stopped
Joe Rousseau's attempt to give the Gators the lead.
SF State had two more attempts in the final minutes of regulation, but Wusstig's shot attempts were stopped by Matthews and one sailed high over the net to send the match into the sudden death overtime periods.
In the first overtime, the Gators' Kelly looked like he had the golden goal in the 90
th minute but the Wildct defense blocked the
attempt. Three minutes later, Watson saw his attempt to be the hero sail high over the goal. Chico State's Hurlow had his attempt for the golden goal be blocked by the Gator defense in the 97
th minute as the match went into the second overtime period.
Rajaee DeLane had the first golden goal attempt in the second 10-minute sudden death overtime period sail high for the Wildcats in the 101
st minute. Then a minute later, Carter Johnson saw his attempt to be the hero for the hosts sail high.
Rousseau had another chance to be the hero for SF State, but his shot was stopped by the Wildcat goalkeeper in the in the 105
th minute. Wusstig had two chances in the 108
th minute to give the Gators the win, but one sailed high and the other was blocked. In the final minute of the second overtime, Wusstig had a final chance for the golden goal and Matthews recorded his fifth save of the match.
The Gators outshot their hosts 16-15 including 6-3 in the two overtime periods. Chico State had five shot on goal attempts to the Gators' two and they also had a 7-5 corner kick advantage.
For the season the Gators recorded a school record 9 shutouts and also allowed just 0.72 goals a match.
Emmanuel Jimenez posted a 0.63 goals against average in 14 matches while recording 6.5 shutouts this season.
Box Score-----
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
