NEWS RELEASE
June 18, 2006

ROOKS DROP TWO GAMES ON THE ROAD

The injury deleted Rooks squad dropped two games on the road this weekend, falling to the Sonoma Sol 1 – 0 on Saturday night and the Redwood City Ruckus 5 – 1 on Sunday afternoon.

Chico battled the Sol to a 0-0 draw in the evenly played first half in Santa Rosa.  In the second period the Rooks pushed players forward in an attempt to gain the momentum.  The tactic worked as the Rooks outshot the Sol 9 to 3 in the second frame, however, they were unable to find the back of the net.

With three minutes left in the game the Brandon Boone outran a Chico defender following a throw in and placed a shot into the upper left corner from 14 yards out for the game winner.  “Considering where we are in the standings (fourth place), we had to go for the win by taking some chances,” said Rooks coach David Stahl, “just like so many games this season, we had them on the ropes but couldn’t finish them.”

On Sunday the Rooks fell 5 – 1 to an improved Ruckus team in a  game that was played in severe winds at Skline College in Pacifica.  “Both the weather conditions and injuries played a major role in our loss to the Ruckus,” said Stahl.  Chico, without the services of five defenders due to injury pieced togetehr a lineup but struggled from the opening whistle.

Just two minutes in the Ruckus, playing with the wind at their backs, sent a long free kick that sailed over the the Rooks backline that Redwood City forward ran on to and beat NickClark, the Rooks keeper from 16 yards out tomake it 1 -0.  In the 34th minute the Ruckus was awarded a penalty kick that was converted to increase the Redwood City leasd to two at the intermission.

At the start of the second half the Rooks, with the advantage of the wind, tried to get back into the game.  However, by pushing players forward Chico exposed themselves to the counter attack and netted only one goal by Luis Orelllana to three forthe Ruckus.  The game ended 5 – 1 Redwood City.

Chico returns home next week to host the Sacramento Knights on Saturday at 7:30 at the soccer stadium on the Chico State campus.

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