With both teams in desperate need of a victory and the three points it would bring in the CCAA standings, Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State settled for a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon at Chico's University Soccer Stadium.
CSUMB (6–6–5, 3–4–3 CCAA) needed the win to stay alive in the race for one of six CCAA Tournament bids. Chico (8–4–5, 5–2–3) needed the win to remain tied atop the conference table with one game remaining in the regular season.
Combined with a San Marcos tie at Sonoma Sunday, the best the Otters can do is finish in seventh place, one point out of a spot in the postseason. If they do, it would mark the second consecutive season the Otters missed the CCAA Tournament by one spot.
Though the result isn't what the Otters aimed for, it was a solid effort on the road against one of the West Region's premier teams in one of the toughest venues in the CCAA. CSUMB has just one win all–time in 14 matches at Chico, but has earned draws in its last two appearances there.
THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Chico goalkeeper Emma Hofmann denied Mitsy Ramirez from range with 50 seconds remaining in regulation. It was the final shot attempted by either team.
FIT TO BE TIED, TEAM EDITION… The Otters tied their program record with their fifth tie of the season Sunday afternoon at Chico State. They also posted five ties in the 2021 season.
FIT TO BE TIED, PLAYER EDITION… With Sunday's scoreless draw at Chico State, Maleni Morales set the CSUMB record for most ties in a season by a goalkeeper. She had been sharing the record of four with Alyssa Noh (2017).
KEEP IT CLEAN… Maleni Morales earned her sixth shutout of 2022 with Sunday's scoreless draw at Chico State. She tied Melissa Moen (2003) for No. 2 on the Otter single–season shutout list. Stephanie Busch own the CSUMB record with eight clean sheets in 2018.
MALENI SAVES THE DAY… With nine saves on the weekend roadtrip, Maleni Morales claimed sole possession of the No. 9 spot on the Otter single–season saves list with 75. She passed Victoria Whyte (2015) and Andrea Senkle (2007), who held the spot with 68 saves apiece.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… GOALS: None; ASSISTS: None; POINTS: None; SHOTS: Mitsy Ramirez 3; SAVES: Maleni Morales 6.
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return home for their season finale Thursday (Oct. 27) against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. as the opening match of doubleheader action.
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