Box Score             • Final Stats     |     • VIDEO: Blaine Carver

 
Kramer Runager's 63rd-minute header accounted for the lone goal as third-seeded Chico State eliminated No. 6 seed Seattle Pacific from the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament with a 1-0 decision at Triton Stadium.
 
The victorious Wildcats (14-4-2) advance to the second round to meet No. 2 seed UC San Diego on Saturday night.
 
SPU saw its season end with a 12-4-3 record.
 
"Unfortunately one didn't go in for us and one did for them," said sixth-year coach Mark Collings, who directed the Falcons into the playoffs in each of the last three years.
 
"It was two really good teams and unfortunately we came up on the short end of it, but it wasn't for lack of effort."
 
The run of play was even between the two teams. Each side attempted 15 shots and both goalkeepers were credited with five saves, red-shirt freshman Cody Lang for SPU and senior Sam Evans for Chico. Evans is a product of Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, Wash.
 


The Wildcats netted the game-winner at 62:07 when Luis Martinez served a cross from the left flank into the center of the box. Runager leaped high between two defenders to head the ball into the right side-netting for his fourth goal of the season.
 
That forged the same 1-0 final score by which Chico won in Seattle on Sept. 7 in the Falcons season-opening contest.
 
While still tied 0-0, the Falcons had some great scoring opportunities early in the second half.

Just 2:20 after halftime, a corner kick by Danny Olivas from the right side found Bryson Pavel for a hard header toward the near post. Evans dove to his left to deflect the ball and Pavel's follow-up shot went high.
 
"I thought that was in," Collings said of Pavel's header. "The goalkeeper came out of nowhere."
 
In the 53rd minute, SPU's Sean Russell raced to reach a low Blaine Carver cross from the right side, but his sliding shot went three feet wide of the left post.
 
The Falcons turned up the pressure after falling behind a goal, outshooting Chico 9-1 during the last 20 minutes. They had four near misses inside the final four minutes, but couldn't find the net with an equalizer.
 
Ian Adams had a shot blocked at 86:11, Stephen MacDonald's header was tipped over the crossbar by Evans at 87:57 and Taylor Backous had a quick header off a nifty volley-pass from Anthony Mohammed carry just over the goal at 88:43.
 
The final crack at the goal came with nine seconds to play when a 25-yard free kick by Olivas sailed high over the crossbar just before time expired on the game and the Falcons season.
 
"We had a lot of great chances and their goalkeeper made two very big-time saves," said Collings.
 
"With where we're at with so many young guys I thought we reacted pretty well to the pressure of the NCAA Tournament. They (Chico) showed their experience today."
 
The Wildcats veteran roster features 11 seniors. SPU countered with a youthful roster comprised of 18 underclassmen, including nine freshmen.
 
One of those freshmen is Lang (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark HS), the first-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference goalkeeper. He played every minute this season.

Lang came up with a magnificent save early in his first playoff appearance, diving near the right post to snare a strong shot by Matt Hurlow just 1:38 into the game.
 
Thursday's result ended SPU's season. It also concluded the collegiate careers of three senior Falcons. Blaine Carver (Soldotna, Alaska), Kodiac Gamble (Tucson, Ariz.) and Anthony Mohammed (Litchfield, Ariz.) helped compile a 45-17-12 record during the past four seasons.
 
"We're not here without these three guys. Their imprint on the program is huge," Collings said. "They've been to three tournaments in a row. They are the ones who helped get us back to the tournament.
 
"I've had multiple coaches say that without those guys we don't have the year that we do because they understand what it means to play at this level and how to lead a group of guys. It's hard sometimes as a college student-athlete to deal with an 18-year-old kid when you're 22. But they did a really good job of helping these young guys understand what it means to be a part of our soccer program."
 
 
NCAA MEN'S SOCCER
Division II Tournament – 1st Round
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
Triton Stadium / La Jolla, Calif.
 
Chico State 1, Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, CSUC, Kramer Runager (Luis Martinez, Octavio Guzman), 62:07.
 
Shots – SPU 15 CSUC 15.
Saves – SPU 5 (Cody Lang), CSUC 5 (Sam Evans).
Corner kicks – SPU 7 CSUC 5.
Fouls – SPU 6 CSUC 17.
Offsides – SPU 1 CSUC 3.
 
Records:
Seattle Pacific 12-4-3
Chico State 14-4-2