The Chico State men’s soccer team’s defense has not allowed a goal over the last five and a half hours it’s been on the field. You read that right: five and a half hours. This weekend, the Wildcats’ back line allowed just 10 shots, only two of which were on goal, in registering shutouts against Cal State Stanislaus in a scoreless draw and Humboldt State in a 2-0 victory. That gives the team three straight shutouts. Thus, in an unprecedented move, the Chico State men’s soccer team’s defense has been named this week’s Wildcat of the Week.
Chico State goalkeeper Sam Evans now has four shutouts in six starts, and the Wildcats have recorded six shutouts in their first 10 matches of 2011. Evans’ career goals-against-average has shrunk to 0.93 in the process, which is the third lowest I school history.
He’s done it with a lot of help. Jacob Darr, Evan Johnston, Mike Janjigian, Elliot Plummer and Trevor Spurgeon have been making it awfully tough on opposing offenses to get a good look at the goal. Opponents have managed just 30 shots on goal over the first 10 matches of the season, and the Wildcats sport one of the nation’s best team goals-against averages (0.66).
That group even mixes it up on the offensive end from time to time. Johnston registered his second assist of the season, setting up Ferid Celosmanovic for Sunday’s game-winning goal. Spurgeon sports an assist to his credit as well.
The Wildcats will attempt to keep that scoreless streak going Friday when UC San Diego visits University Soccer Stadium for a 4:30 PM match.
