Bradford’s Chico State career on the way to fairy tale ending

CHICO – As one of only two fourth year seniors, midfielder Zach Bradford has experienced many emotional highs and lows as part of the Chico State men’s soccer team. An athlete always wants to end his or her collegiate career with a big finish, and Bradford – thanks to his match-winning boot in the 88th minute of Sunday’s NCAA West Region Tournament final to beat Grand Canyon University 2-1 – continues to live the dream, as he and the ’Cats advance to the national quarterfinals and host Midwestern State (Texas) next Saturday at 1 p.m. for the right to move on to the NCAA Final Four.

For a player who has withstood the disappointments of missing out on postseason play in 2007 and 2009, and a season-ending first round exit in the 2008 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, Bradford’s head was understandably in the clouds immediately following Sunday’s win over the No. 7 ranked ’Lopes, as the Wildcats scored two goals in the match’s final four minutes to pull out the victory. The native of Beaverton, Ore., who was named the West Regional’s Most Valuable Offensive Player, was more interested in praising his teammates than he was talking about the game-winning goal. “It really is amazing,” Bradford said. “This team – we’re all brothers and we all fight for each other; I love these guys.”

The win was Chico State’s 15th of the season, and just in case you’re keeping score at home, they represent the most victories by any Wildcat men’s soccer team since 2003 – the year the ’Cats, led by All American and future MLS Soccer star Chris Wondolowski, captured the program’s last West Regional title and was runner-up for the national championship.

Bradford and the rest of the Wildcats were prepared for a talented Grand Canyon team that had entering Sunday’s action bested Chico State eight out of 11 times since 1963. “We knew the game was going to be a dogfight,” Bradford said. “We had to punch ‘em out and choke ‘em out to win, and we did.”

After being shut out in the regular season finale and losing 3-0 to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first round of the CCAA Championship Tournament, Chico State was able to quickly turn the page and take advantage of playing the NCAA West Regional at home. According to Bradford, the ability to collectively rise to the challenge is what makes this year’s edition of the Wildcats so special. “It’s a family,” Bradford said of his team. “We fight for our family; it’s as simple as that.”

Bradford’s senior year – which already qualifies as a memorable one – will include one more match at University Soccer Stadium against Midwestern State, ranked No. 2 in the country. With a quarterfinal win, Chico State will go to Louisville, Ky. needing just two victories to claim the program’s first-ever national championship. That’s exactly the type of big finish that Bradford and fellow Wildcat seniors Ross Judge, Leo Zarate and Ryan Nevarez will strive to go out on.