Evans ties career wins record in blowout
Fourth-year senior notches 30th career victory

Sam Evans tied the Chico State record for career goalkeeping victories with his 30th Friday night. Few, if any, have come as easily.

Tyson Crim, Jake Ward and Joachim Gasmi scored in a dominating 3-0 win against Cal State San Bernardino that pushed the Wildcats to 7-2-0 overall and 5-2-0 in the CCAA.

The Wildcats outshot Cal State San Bernardino 23-4 and Evans was forced to make just one save before Head Coach Felipe Restrepo removed him from the match with just over a minute left to a standing ovation from his teammates and the 773 in attendance for Carl’s Jr. Pack The House Night at University Soccer Stadium.

Restrepo presented Evans with the game ball in a brief ceremony following the match.

“This is a special night,” said Restrepo. “What a great opportunity to reward a great kid for a record that’s probably going to stand for a long, long time.”

Evans tied Tom Liner’s record. Liner, who played from 1988-91, is currently the head coach at Foothill Community College.

Evans improved to 30-10-9 in his fourth season in goal for the Wildcats. The fourth-year senior from Snoqualmie, Wash., also ranks third in school history with 17 career shutouts and fourth in career goals-against-average at 0.93.

Evans faced his first shot and made his lone save in the 20th minute on Omar Laris’ header. But the Wildcats already had a 1-0 lead by then. Crim provided all the scoring the Wildcats needed in the ninth minute, heading home Octavio Guzman’s cross to the far post back across the goalkeeper’s face and into the top shelf.

Ward gave the ’Cats some cushion in the 58th minute with a fantastic free kick from 35 yards out that knuckled low and crept inside the near post for a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats finished the scoring in the 79th minute. Matt Hurlow attacked down the left flank with the dribble and then looped a quick pass to Gasmi running toward the near post. Gasmi, who played for Liner at Foothill Community College, got his foot up to redirect the ball up and over the charging keeper.

Gasmi and Ward have now scored in consecutive matches.

Chico State will wrap up its first half of conference action this Sunday at San Francisco State at 11:30 a.m.