LOS ANGELES -- Cal State L.A's women's soccer team saw its offense get untracked in a big way Sunday in its final California Collegiate Athletic Association home game of the season.
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Anahie Duran's brilliant overtime goal gave the Golden Eagles a 3-2 victory over Chico State on Senior Day at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A. (4-5-3, 4-2-1 CCAA) ran its unbeaten streak to five games and won its fourth consecutive conference game.
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Cal State L.A. stays in a tie for third place in the conference with 13 points, while Chico State (7-3-2, 3-2-1 CCAA) is one of four teams tied for sixth with 10 points.
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The top six teams will advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament.
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The Golden Eagles scored three goals in a game for the first time this season.
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It came at a perfect time because Cal State L.A., which had allowed only eight goals all season entering play on Sunday, surrendered two goals in a game for only the second time this season and the first in conference games.
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Duran gave the Golden Eagles the victory on Sunday with a tremendous individual effort on an extremely hot day. She took a pass from
Blanca Adame deep in Chico State territory and made a nice move to split a number of Chico State defenders. She eventually broke free and drilled a shot inside the far post for her second goal of the season.
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She also came up with a big defensive play in the first half, clearing a ball off the line to prevent a Chico State goal.
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Chico State had a 16-12 advantage in shots and both teams had three corner kicks. Cal State L.A. goalkeeper
Adriana Maldonado made five saves and Chico State goalkeeper Mackenzie Boulton made two saves.
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Chico State opened the scoring in dramatic fashion, scoring on a rebound in the first minute of play. The Wildcats moved right down the field and a shot by Pooja Patel hit the crossbar. Gabi Story was right there to knock home the rebound and Chico State had a quick 1-0 lead.
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Shea Hoover tied things up for the Golden Eagles in the 11
th minute.
Veronika Steen hit a perfect corner kick to an unmarked Hoover, who had time to settle the ball and then send a kick to the far post for her first goal of the season.
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Steen made it 2-1 in the 29
th minute taking a pass from Adame and then firing a shot just outside the box and just inside the near post for her second goal of the season.
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The Golden Eagles held the 2-1 lead into the second half until the Wildcats again struck with a goal off a rebound. This time, Katie Brown hit a shot off the crossbar and Nicole Roberts was the first one to the loose ball, scoring her first goal of the season.
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Both teams had excellent chances to win the game in regulation. Chico State's Shelby Lanksbury broke free in the 85
th minute, but Maldonado came out aggressively to block the shot away.
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In the final minute of regulation,
Victoria Arredondo had a good look from close range, but her attempt went high and the game went into overtime.
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Duran had the first chance in the overtime and made it count.
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The Golden Eagles honored their four seniors –
Kamille Cawley,
Jackeline Lopez,
Shelby Nieto and
Katelyn Fregosi – in pregame ceremonies.
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Cal State L.A. will play its final five conference games on the road, beginning with a game at San Francisco State on Friday at 3 p.m.
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