Two late goals by Chico State rallies Wildcats by Grand Canyon 2-1 in NCAA II West Region title match

CHICO, CA – Chico State scored a pair of goals two minutes apart in the waning moments of the NCAA II West Region Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday, propelling the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory over Grand Canyon in Chico, CA.

The loss ends the Antelopes season at 15-3-2 while Chico State advances to the national quarterfinals next weekend with a 15-6 overall mark.

All of the scoring took place in the second half beginning with the Antelopes who jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 51:19 when Joao Viera punched home his fourth goal of the year on an unassisted tally.

The Grand Canyon defense stood stellar for most of the game and did not allow a shot on goal until the 86:14 mark when Chico State’s Tyson Crim headed home the game-tying goal off a feed from Ryan Nevarez.

Then, just under two minutes later at 88:12, Chico State’s Zach Bradford slipped home a shot along the ground through a crowd for a 2-1 lead the Wildcats would not yield.

Chico State will face the winner of the Colorado School of Mines-Midwestern (TX) State next weekend in the national quarterfinals.