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Home of the Regis University Rangers
2
Winner Chico St. CSU (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
1
Regis (CO) Regis (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Chico St. CSU
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
2
Final
1
Regis (CO) Regis
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Chico St. CSU 1 1 2
Regis (CO) Regis 0 1 1
Cadence Fisher 9.1
Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Regis women's soccer mounts second-half rally, but fall by 2-1 final to Chico State

DENVER, Colo. — In front of a packed house at the Regis Turf Fields, the Regis University women's soccer team provided plenty of positive flashes, but were unable to knock off a relentless Chico State University squad as the Rangers fell by a narrow 2-1 final.

Chico State (1-0 overall) capitalized on a pair of Regis (0-1 overall) turnovers in the defensive end Friday, the last coming in the 86th minute, to steal what was a physical, back-and-forth affair to kick off the 2023 campaign.

"Obviously, giving up a goal in the final minutes of regulation hurts, especially after how hard we worked to come back and get the equalizer in a game that, boy, they gave us a lot of pressure and every ball was contested," said Regis head women's soccer coach, Jeff Frykholm. "But there was a lot to be learned and that was the message after the game."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Chico State dictated the majority of the action in the first half and would get on the scoreboard first in the 32nd minute, capitalizing on a failed clear attempt that landed at the feet of Jiana Martin, who struck a ball from 25-yards out just under the crossbar to put the Wildcats up, 1-0.

The Rangers were able to flip the field in the second half as they outshot Chico State, 11-6, over the final 45 minutes.

Regis netted the equalizer in the 80th minute after freshman Madeline Gardner, who shined off the bench in her collegiate debut, drew a penalty kick opportunity via a Chico State handball in the box at the 79:48 mark.

"For her first time out, the impact Maddie had coming off the bench was very notable and remarkable," Frykholm said of the freshman, who got off two shots and terrorized the Wildcats back row during her 58 minutes. "She's a very gifted athlete and the great thing about her is she just never stops. She's relentless. The play that led to the penalty kick was a ball most players would give up on, but she kept hunting it."

That hard work would pay off as, on the ensuing PK, sophomore Natalie Bunch put a rocket on net that Chico State's goalkeeper was initially able to stop, but the rebound was polished off by fellow sophomore Cadence Fisher to pull the Rangers even at 1-1.

"It was great to see; a freshman creates the moment and two sophomores combined for the goal. We have been preaching, 'Rebounds, rebounds, rebounds,' and there it was," Frykholm said. "That was a great moment of effort and hunting rebounds in the box."

With the momentum back on their side, the Rangers' seem poised to challenge for a go-ahead goal. But it was the Wildcats who would steal the thunder, capitalizing on a turnover in the Regis half and scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal just six minutes later.

"It was a learning moment. At that point in the game, you're hoping to put the (clear) in the parking lot if you need to. But (Chico State) was pressuring us hard and those are very difficult balls to clear," Frykholm said. "Credit to Chico State's system. They're very experience and they were very aggressive and I don't think we were quite ready for the pressure that we faced."

GAME NOTES
  • Junior midfielder Sarah Wynn led all Rangers with three total shot attempts.
  • Freshman goalkeeper Kayla Arucan made three saves in her collegiate debut.
  • Regis finished with an 18-13 advantage in total shot attempts.
  • Each team earned four corner kick opportunities.
 
UP NEXT
The Rangers will continue their four-game homestand on Sunday when they host San Francisco State University. Kick-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Regis Turf Fields.
 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
31:45
CSU Jiana Martin (1)
GOAL by CSU Martin, Jiana.
79:50
Regis Cadence Fisher (1)
Assisted By: Natalie Bunch
GOAL by Regis Fisher, Cadence Assist by Bunch, Natalie.
85:59
CSU Avery Pieri (1)
Assisted By: Hannah Pieri
GOAL by CSU Pieri, Avery Assist by Pieri, Hannah.

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