With Sunday’s game tied at 1-1, the SF State women’s soccer team pulled off an improbable comeback to defeat visiting Chico State 2-1 at Cox Stadium.

Senior Marieke Blazeski, one of eight seniors for the Lady Gators (4-11-2, 3-7-2) that were playing in their last home game, telegraphed a 30-yard shot from outside the box that barely flew over the head of Wildcat (9-4-4, 8-2-3) goalie C.J. Jimenez in the 78th minute, for the Lady Gators second straight win.

“It feels really good,” Blazeski said. “We worked hard and did a great job.”

The game-winning goal was Blazeski’s fourth goal of the season and second in two games. On Friday, her goal in the 14th minute proved to be the difference in the Lady Gators’ 2-1 victory over Sonoma State.

Led by seniors Erin Hartmann and Brittany Edwards, the Lady Gator defenders kept pressure off of goalie Erin Clark and kept the score a one-goal game despite having the ball in their half of the field most of the first half. Following Blazeski’s goal, the team’s defenders shut down any attempts from the Wildcats to tie the game. The Wildcats just clinched the CCAA North Division title on Friday.

“The determination from the team was so strong,” Edwards said. “It was intense!”

Wildcat midfielder Premila Carleson capitalized on a loose ball in the box and laid a pin-point pass to forward Courtney Quan. Quan took a quick turn-around shot pass Clark for the game’s first goal.

The Lady Gators had few, but good opportunities in the first half. Senior forward Kristine Marbach raced up the sideline and centered the ball to freshmen forward Lisette Garay. Garay overran the ball, and Marbach, who followed up her pass into the box, had too many touches and couldn’t get a shot off. Marbach had another scoring chance later in the first half that was blocked by a Wildcat defender.

In the second half, the Lady Gators were noticeably more aggressive and pushing the ball ahead faster than the first half. In the 65th minute, Garay tied the game with her third goal of the season from a pass by Shannon Devine. The Wildcats claimed Garay was offsides, but the goal stood.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said head coach Jack Hyde. “They just played terrific.”

The upset-win marked the last home game for Blazeski, team co-captains Hartmann and Katie Klain, Edwards, Marbach, Ashley Relf, Jessica Pearson and Quisha Simon. The victory also marked Hyde’s 275 win in his coaching career.

“I think Erin certainly played well and worked very well with the other defenders,” Hyde said. “It was a pleasure to watch them play. It was a total team effort.”

With their wins over the Wildcats and Sonoma State, the Lady Gators have defeated the top-two teams in the CCAA North Division over their last two games. They end the season with road games at CSU Monterey Bay on Wednesday and at Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday. With two wins in their final two games, the Lady Gators could bump up to third in the division.