The Gators have now won four in a row after a 2-1 upset win over the nationally ranked Chico State Wildcats and are now 4-1-1 on the season.
“I thought we played fantastic,” head coach Tracy Hamm said. “It was our best performance we had so far. All the stuff we’ve been working on in the past month came together tonight. It was a good win.”
The Gators trailed early when Chico State’s sophomore defender Korie Bozart hit a strike from 30 yards out to put the Wildcats up 1-0 at the 11th minute. The lead didn’t last long as the Gators answered with a goal of their own at the 23rd minute when defender Jada Williams assisted midfielder Kimber Lohman to tie it up at 1-1. That goal was the first goal Chico State goalie Caitlyn Duval allowed this season.
SF State came out strong in the second half, leaving coach Hamm pleased with her team and how they followed today’s game plan.
“If we play with confidence we can play with anyone,” Hamm said. “Today we were able identify the areas we felt we could expose and we did a great job doing it.”
The second half was a back and forth battle. Both teams had chances to capitalize, and at the 68th minute, junior midfielder Sierra Sagasta scored during an attack by the Gator offense after a perfectly placed ball from senior forward Natasha Gosiaco for what proved to be the game winner.
“That goal felt amazing; the whole team contributed to that goal,” Sagasta said. “I came out the backline and went all out for the goal.”
With this win, SF State now has an overall record of 4-1-1 on the season and is undefeated in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.
“The gameplan is to always work hard and play for each, and we have to keep that up,” freshman defender Valentina Riveros said. “We have to get wins no matter how.”
The Gators will look to continue their momentum in a non-conference match against Holy Names University at Merritt College on Sept. 18th.