Despite the loss of dynamic defender Garrett Hogbin to a likely season-ending injury, the Chico State men's soccer team was determined to keep its season from going down the tubes. They needed Ryan Caro to step in for the injured Hogbin and mind the gap. Instead, the junior transfer from UC Davis is helping to drive the train.
The Wildcat of the Week has played every minute during the Wildcats' six-match shutout streak to begin California Collegiate Athletic Association play and dished out a pair of assists along the way.
Caro helped anchor the Wildcats' defense once again last weekend as it held the explosive offenses from Humboldt State and Sonoma State (both tied for third in the CCAA in scoring) to 22 shots, and just nine shots on goal. Chico State's starting back four of Caro, Justin Bethke, Coby Cueva, and Joshua Belda have limited CCAA opposition to just 26 shots on goal in their first six conference games.
Meanwhile, Caro assisted on the match winner Friday at Humboldt State, heading a corner kick back across the face of the goal where Justin Bethke waited to poke it into the back of the net.
Caro played all 110 minutes of the Wildcats' scoreless draw at Sonoma State Sunday.
Caro and the Wildcats, now ranked No. 14 in the nation with an overall record of 7-2-1 and conference mark of 5-0-1, will attempt to tie the program record for consecutive shutouts Saturday night at 7 p.m. at home against UC Santa Cruz.
