CCAA Men's Soccer Championship Tournament: Chico State Captures First Championship With 5-1 Win Over UC San Diego
November 9, 2003

Courtesy CCAA Media Relations Office

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif. – Jaime Rodriguez and Chris Wondolowski tallied a goal and assist apiece to power CHICO STATE to its first California Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Soccer Championship with a 5-1 win over UC SAN DIEGO.

The Wildcats jumped on top early when Rodriguez took a cross from Jesse Grigg and beat UCSD goalie Jeremy Cookson four and a half minutes into the contest. Michael Esser scored off a deflection in the 32nd minute to give the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage. Wondolowski broke the game open with 1:30 remaining in the first half when he hammered home a cross from Grigg.

Chico picked up where it left off in the second half, as Rusty Phillips scored off assists from Enrique Tadeo and Rodriguez to make it 4-0. UCSD got on the scoreboard when Matthew Davey scored on a header to the near post. Brett Williams capped Chico’s championship run when he blasted home the final goal off a pass from Wondolowski.

The Wildcats improved to 17-4-1 on the season and likely earned a berth to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament. UC San Diego dropped to 11-6-1, but is still in contention for a postseason berth as well.

“Our effort was excellent,” Chico coach Mike O’Malley said. “Everything worked in our favor because we made good decisions on and off the ball.”

UC San Diego coach Derek Armstrong conceded to a superior team.

“(Chico) is a team on a mission,” he said. “It’s going to take a gutsy team to beat them (in the playoffs). Chico has an unquenchable spirit that is very difficult to beat."

UC San Diego  0 1 - 1 
Chico State   3 2 - 5

Scoring
4:32: CSUC – Jaime Rodriguez (Jesse Grigg).
31:34: CSUC – Michael Esser.
43:30: CSUC – Chris Wondolowski (Grigg, Dustin Tong).
56:49: CSUC – Rusty Phillips (Enrique Tadeo, Rodriguez).
65:30: UCSD – Matthew Davey (Tiago Venturi).
72:15: CSUC – Brett Williams (Wondolowski).

Shots – UCSD 19, CSUC 11.

Corner Kicks – UCSD 8, CSUC 3.

Fouls – CSUC 13, UCSD 12.

Red Card Ejection – Jonathan Shum (UCSD).

Weather – Cloudy and Breezy.

Attendance – 319.