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Chico State

Soccer Programs Win Big on Small Screen

Chico State assistant coach Kat Benton-Laezza (right) and #6 Susanna Garcia (left) watch the action while being followed by a documentary crew during the Wildcats’ soccer match against Cal Poly Humboldt.
(Matt Bates/ University Photographer)

The rural beauty and NorCal ethos shared by Chico State and Cal Poly Humboldt are part of what makes us frenemies. There’s no better stage to see this dynamic play out than University Soccer Stadium, where the men’s and women’s teams prize each opportunity to defend their home pitch. The second-best stage? Your living room, watching “The Battle for the North”—episode four of The Rivalries, a documentary series produced for the LG Championships channel. 

The episode dives into what drives the players, coaches, and characters that make up Chico State’s soccer programs. Leading up to a doubleheader against historic foe Cal Poly Humboldt, Head Coaches Kim Sutton and Felipe Restrepo show passion and vulnerability when describing their programs—letting viewers see it’s as personal for them as the student-athletes. Meanwhile, players emanate joy as they discuss their love for the game at this level and set the stage for the two-competition climax. 

If you weren’t among the nearly 1,000 fans at the Stadium to see it in person, no spoilers here. The 23-minute episode will have you on the edge of your seat again and anxious for the next matchup.  

The Rivalries is available on the NCAA Championships Channel (Channel 100) via LG Channels on LG Smart TVs. Don’t have an LG TV? Stream it online.

P.S.—in case you’re wondering, the Lumberjacks are scheduled to visit University Soccer Stadium on Nov. 15, 2023.