Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team bounced back impressively from its disappointing overtime loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

 

The Golden Eagles got first-half goals from Liz Franco and Caroline Hanna and held on to a 2-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association win over No. 24 Chico State Friday at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A. (8-2, 5-2 CCAA), which is ranked 14^th in the nation, held on to a share of the CCAA South Division lead with the win. Chico State (5-3-2, 3-1-2 CCAA) still holds the lead in the CCAA North Division.

 

Franco scored her fourth goal of the season in the 13^th minute off a beautiful pass from Alex Conley and then broke her own single-season program record for assists when she set up Hanna's first goal of the season in the 35^th minute.

 

Chico State got on track in the second half and pulled to within 2-1 after a goal by Molly McFadden, her first of the season, in the 78^th minute.

 

Chico State goalie Natalie Bensky made an outstanding save of an attempt by Cal State L.A.'s Gabbi Segall just seconds after the goal and the Wildcats survived two quick corner kicks from the Golden Eagles.

 

Chico State then earned itself a pair of corner kicks in the final seven minutes and Cal State L.A. goalie Jessie Walworth stopped a shot by Blake Lopes in the final minute to preserve the win.

 

Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 19-13 edge in shots, while Chico State had an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.

 

Bensky made 10 saves for the Wildcats, while Walworth made eight saves for the Golden Eagles.

 

The Golden Eagles started quickly and had an outstanding chance in the opening minute when Segall received a perfect pass from Conley, but her shot went just wide just 29 seconds into the match.

 

Franco put the Golden Eagles ahead, 1-0, in the 13^th minute when she got a pass from Conley, dribbled to the middle of the box and drilled a shot into the right corner of the net for her fourth goal of the season.

 

Franco had an assist on the Golden Eagles' second goal when she sent a corner kick into the box and Hanna was there to knock it home for a 2-0 lead in the 35^th minute.

 

The Wildcats got on the board in the 78^th minute when McFadden got to a pass in front of the net and drilled a shot just off Walworth's fingertips and under the crossbar for the score. Ali Sward and Melissa Pease had the assists.

 

Ann Marie Tangorra had a strong game for Cal State L.A. and had a team-high five shots.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Sunday with a home match against Cal State Stanislaus.