A Kute Finish

Thursday, September 1

Riverside, Calif.

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

0-1-0

Chico State

1-0-0

OT 3

OT 4

Chico State

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

9/1/2016 6:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In the very first game of the 2016 season, California Baptist University battled Chico State into double overtime action, but just came up short with a 2-1 loss Thursday afternoon.

CBU opens the season 0-1-0, while the Wildcats begin the campaign 1-0-0.

"Our goal is to compete for championships and playing a top team like Chico State right off the bat is going to help prepare us for conference," said Coach Kristen St. Clair.

Isalei Tauaese gave the Lancers a quick look early on, putting a header on frame in just the third minute of action, but neither team could find the back of the net until 40 minutes later.

In the 43^rd minute, Casey Kute scored her first collegiate goal to put CBU in front 1-0 just before halftime. Justene Kesterson posted up at the top of the 18^th box and laid a ball back to Jordan Dow to set up the play. Dow then sent in a one-touch cross toward the back post, finding Kute wide open for the goal.

"I was super excited to score," said Kute. "I got subbed in with about five minutes left in the half and thought, 'I have five minutes, let's get something out of this.' I saw Jordan put her hand up to cross it and I saw the girl in front of me misjudge it so I was able to head it in."

With only a one-goal lead, CBU knew it couldn't get complacent against a team like Chico State. The Lancers fired off four shots in the first four minutes of the second half, hoping to tack on some insurance.

Miranda Martinez looked like she might find some extra cushion in the 49^th minute, but the Wildcat goalkeeper made the save to keep it 1-0.

"I thought we played very well," said St. Clair. "Casey had an excellent goal. It was a very good start. We did a lot of things very well, just got a little unlucky on the result."

Chico State made things interesting in the 79^th minute to even the game at 1-1.

The Lancers kept pushing, hoping to avoid overtime, but extra time seemed inevitable.

Both teams had chances in the first 10-minute period, with Sara Escobedo coming up big on a breakaway to keep CBU in the game.

Lanai Navarro came into the second overtime period hoping to be the hero, but just missed wide of the goal with five minutes left to play.

Just before the one-minute warning, however, Chico State sealed the deal. The Wildcats drew a foul on the left side of the field, about 35 yards out, and snuck it into the back post for the game-winner.

"Sara made some tremendous saves today," said St. Clair. "We created very good attacking opportunities, we just got unlucky. Sometimes in soccer it bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't; today it didn't. We're going to learn from this game and start getting ready for Saturday."

The Lancers host Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday at noon where they will look to bounce back from the opening defeat.