Mar. 20th, 2004 - Chico State Defeats Gonzaga at Husky Invitational

Seattle, WA - A swarming Chico State (7-3) defense limited Gonzaga (1-5) to fourteen shots on goal as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half for the convincing victory at the Husky Invitational Tournament inside the Dempsey Indoor facility at the University of Washington.

Attackman Matt Bissell had a goal and four assists to pace Chico State, with Midfielders Jesse Locke and Rhodes Worthington each adding three goals and an assist for the Wildcats. Attackman Jimmy winning scored three goals to lead Gonzaga.

A key play of the game occurred in the waning seconds of the first quarter. With the score tied at 3-3 and the Chico sideline screaming out the countdown, the Wildcats completed a full-field clear with Attackman Dan Yob (0,1) assisting Bissell's goal with three seconds remaining.

Leading by one to start the second, Chico traded goals with the Zags and the score was 5-4 after Middie Craig Poffenroth (1,0) found net for Gonzaga at 11:58.

The Wildcat defense then put the clamps on Gonzaga, shutting out the Bulldog for the final twelve minutes of the half. But the score was only 6-4 Chico when, with the sideline again screaming out seconds FOUR...THREE...TWO!!!!), Wildcat Middie John Messina (0,1) found a cutting Whit Poor (2,0) for a buzzer-beating shot, making the score 7-4 Chico at halftime.

Both defenses stiffened in the third quarter, which Chico won 2-1 to take a 9-5 lead into the final period.

Twining's third goal gave Gonzaga a spark at 11:36 of the fourth quarter, and the Zags trailed by only three. But Freshman Attackman Cullen Maroney (2,1) scored at 9:49 to make the Chico lead 10-6, and Gonzaga's thin hopes evaporated. The Wildcats added three unanswered goals in the final minutes for the final 13-6 margin.

Box Score: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 = Final
CSUC: 4 - 3 - 2 - 4 = 13
GU: 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 6

Scoring:

CSUC Bissell 1g/4a, Locke 3/1, Worthington 3/1,
Maroney 2/1, Poor 2/0, Webber 1/0, Orman 1/0, Messina
0/1, Diprofrio 0/1

GU Twining 3/0, Stein 1/1, Kladis 0/2, Bland 1/0,
Proffenroth 1/0

Goaltending:
CSUC Wahrlich 3s/6ga
GU Benson-Piscopo 14/13

Shots:
CSUC 31
GU 14

Penalties:
CSUC 5 for 3 1/2 minutes
GU 2 for 1 minute

Weather:
Indoors

Attendance:
50