BOX SCORE No. 2 Sonoma State 2, Chico State 1 -- Box Score

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. --  Throughout their six-game skyrocket to the top of Division II, naysayers might have contended that the second-ranked Sonoma State women's soccer team had yet to challenge a powerhouse.  It's time to check off another box.  Behind goals from Cara Curtin and Sara Studer, the Seawolves defeated reigning west region champion and national semi-finalist Chico State 2-1 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd on Friday afternoon in Rohnert Park.  The win lifts the Seawolves to 7-0-0 overall and 5-0-0 in the CCAA.  The Wildcats drop to 4-3 on the season.

It ended a winless streak of six matches for SSU against Chico; the Seawolves hadn't beaten the Wildcats since 2008.

Taking the field against a Wildcat squad that has won four of the last six CCAA North Division titles, the Seawolves knew they had their work cut out for them.  This point was emphasized when, just 27 seconds into the contest, the Wildcats drew first blood.  Following a quick throw-in, Chico knocked the ball into the corner where Shelby Dunlap floated a cross towards the box to Scotie Walker, who chipped it over Alexis Sciacqua and into the net.  The goal handed the Seawolves their first deficit of the entire season and had the crowd wondering how the squad would react.

As it turns out, they reacted rather brilliantly.  After a near-miss just seconds later, the Seawolves equalized late in the third minute of play when a Studer cross richocheted to Curtin, who booted it in.  It was the CCAA-leading eighth goal of the year for the junior from Santa Rosa. 

Though Sonoma State would have several opportunities later in the half, the teams would enter the break tied at one.  As they like to do, however, the Seawolves changed things with an early goal in the second.  This time, it was Ashley Martin floating a pass over the defense to Studer, who raced around a defender and slotted it to the right of the keeper. 

Despite playing with a lead, the Seawolves were not content to just sit back and waste away the clock.  Instead, they were clearly the agressors, spending the majority of the half deep in Chico territory.  The second half shot advantage of 11-2 (and 20-6 for the game) is evidence of the agressive game plan employed by the Seawolves.  Though they wouldn't get another goal - thanks in part to some fine goalkeeping by Chico's Brianna Furner - the Seawolves frustrated the Chico defense with promising runs and near-misses.

At 7-0-0, the Seawolves are unbeaten after seven games for just the second time in school history.  In 1999, Sonoma started out 6-0-1 on their way to a 15-2-4 record and in 1998, the team rolled to wins in their first 18 games before advancing to the national championship game and ending up 22-2-1.

The Seawolves will put their perfect mark on the line on Sunday when they host second place Cal State Stanislaus.  It will be another showdown as the Warriors enter the contest at 6-1, 4-1 CCAA and ranked 21st in the nation, following their 2-1 defeat of Humboldt State on Friday.  Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 am.