CHICO, Calif. - Kevin Gibson followed the bouncing ball, and in the end, the Chico State men’s soccer season was singing another song of victory. Gibson knocked home a ball that was punted by Wildcats goalkeeper Michael Keohane, bounced once, and was headed past the goalkeeper by Aren Dawkins for the game-winner in the 41st minute Chico State’s 1-0 victory against visiting Cal State Stanislaus Wednesday.

With the win, the Wildcats improved to 9-0-1 to match their best start since 1981. Only the 1971 team, which started 9-0-1, had a better record through 10 matches. Chico State also remained atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division standings, improving to 5-1-0 in conference play. They’re also 5-0 at home.

Cal State Stanislaus dropped its sixth straight match to fall to 1-7-1 overall and 0-6-0 in the CCAA.

The visiting Warriors actually out-shot Chico State 7-3 in a match that was mostly contested in the middle third of the pitch. But Stanislaus did not put a single shot on frame against a stingy Chico State defense that has now shut out five consecutive CCAA opponents at home dating back to the final match of last season. Keohane’s shutout was his fourth in six CCAA contests this season, though he wasn’t forced to make a single save or even once punch a dangerous ball away.

Meanwhile, two of Chico State’s three shots were on goal and the Wildcats earned a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Keohane’s assist was his second of the season on a punt. Just as was the case with the first one, he caught the defense off guard with a quick, long kick. The defense was caught backpedaling while the Wildcats were running headlong toward the goal. Dawkins, a true freshman and likely the fastest player on the team, turned on the afterburners to challenge Stanislaus goalkeeper Javier Rosales after he hesitated for a split second once the ball landed right at the back line of the defense and bounced toward him. Dawkins leapt high to flick it past Rosales, who tipped it, but not enough to keep it from going behind him. Gibson followed just behind him and got completely behind Rosales and the rest of the defense to finish the play for his first career goal.

The Wildcats are back in action Friday at Cal State L.A. for a 1:30 p.m. match. They’ll begin a four-game home stretch by hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday, Oct. 10, at 4:30 p.m.

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