I was impressed with the women's soccer team this week, coming home for a definite trap in its schedule against pitiful Cal State Monterey Bay (your logo makes a good stuffed animal at least, Otters), and always-dangerous San Francisco State. The Friday tilt against the Seasiders was one that could have been taken very lightly.

It. Was. Not. It was taken so not-lightly that I used three sentences just then to illustrate it. Here's what I noticed from that game:

The Wildcat midfield has got some attitude and it rocks.
I'm talking specifically about Blake Lopes and Kelsey Ikemoto; I feel like if you were in Safeway and left your cart in the middle of the aisle, neither of them would hesitate to not just move it, but turn it on its side and spill your groceries all over the place. Then they'd play a nice ball up the sideline.

Maybe it's because my seat is usually right at midfield that I notice them more than the others, and I'm sure Michelle Grek and Jackie Thomas do their share of jawing, but Lopes and Ikemoto swear like sailors (in a very wholesome, sportsmanlike way, obviously; we're not getting anyone in trouble here) and, more importantly, they win balls in the soccer equivalent of The Trenches. This is technically an offshoot of the Chico Enterprise-Record, so I can't quite quote here -- "quite quote" is fun to type -- but some of the exchanges you hear on a soccer pitch are pretty laughable.

It's safe to paint with broad strokes when it comes to this team.
By that, I mean that each element has its own distinguishing characteristic: the forward trio of Ashley Perlman, Ali Sward and Lisa Webster is simply a speed threat that will win a lot of 1-on-1s through the back line and generally beat anyone to the ball; that some crazy number like 95 percent of Chico State's goals come from those three is no surprise.

The midfield, as mentioned before, is aggressive and gritty -- the players there are noticeably not as tall as some of the other competition you'll see around the CCAA -- but they're also very skilled. Grek's been thrown into the starting lineup the past three games and Kim Sutton's loved the job she's done; I've always seen Ikemoto as the leader of that bunch in a quiet but dangerous way. You don't really hear her coming or anticipate where she's going, so she never looks like she just did something she didn't mean to.

Yes, I guess I am calling Kelsey Ikemoto a ninja. I suppose Lopes would be a pirate, then, because she likes to yell and play physically and then plunder your vessel.

When needed, this defense can be a great one.
I wasn't so sure about this just two weeks ago, when 10 minutes without Molly Downtain in the game went all disastro and two goals were scored in 60 seconds, resulting in a tie with Cal State East Bay. Downtain is the heart of that defense, but on Sunday, we got to see a little more pressure put on that unit and it responded. Kasey Wall, who I really think is underrated because she's so quiet and steady, Alex Rodriguez, Shelby Dunlap and Sarah Steele all helped keeper Natalie Bensky out of trouble.

I think this defense could be better, still. Rodriguez has been hurt all season and she's as important as almost anybody when she's healthy. Carly Atkins has regressed, which is sad to say because 1) just a year ago she was starting and contributing and 2) she puts her arms out like she's flying when she runs, but she could still save quite a bit of face if she can manage to be a bench contributor. Downtain's been hurt, too, and Sutton would like to not play her 85 minutes a game and worry for the other five. Health's a big issue for her defenders, but the back line appears to be making strides.

As a reminder, this blog is supplemented by a weekly radio segment of the same name on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM/1340 AM with Mike Baca at 1:40, 3:40 and 5:40 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. This week, we're giving some love to Chico State distance running coach Gary Towne, who on Saturday will become an honorary member of the university's sports hall of fame. Way cool deal, way cool guy. There'll be more on him before Saturday, but some good stuff can be heard in those segments. I think Baca will edit the part where I clear my throat.