CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State men’s soccer team had so much to celebrate Sunday they did two post-match cheers. The Wildcats defeated Cal State San Bernardino 4-0 in what was dubbed the “Dave Hardy and Ray Nolan Memorial Game,” and alumni from throughout the history of the program were on hand, including the team’s all-time winningest head coaches – Don Batie and Mike O’Malley. They witnessed a touching halftime celebration of the lives of Hardy and Nolan, who both passed away over the last year. They also witnessed an impressive Chico State victory that bumped their record to 7-0-0 for just the third time in Chico State history and the first time since 1981.
After the mach, first-year Wildcats head coach Felipe Restrepo called for Batie, O’Malley, and the other alumni on hand to join the post-match cheer. First, Wildcats goalkeeper Michael Keohane led them all in the team’s new “Chico! Clap, clap, clap” cheer. Then, O’Malley was asked to lead the guys in an “Olay, olay, olay…” cheer from the past.
“That was just real special to recognize Dave and Ray like that today with all of the special people who have played here,” said O’Malley. “And it was great to see these guys playing so well. What a great day for Chico State soccer.”
It was certainly a day to remember. The Wildcats’ four-goal effort was the team’s first in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match since a 4-2 win against Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 3, 2004. The four-goal margin of victory was the team’s largest against a conference foe since a 5-1 win against UC San Diego on Nov. 9, 2003.
Second-half tallies from Evan Armstrong, Kyle Crain, and Zac Crim complimented true freshman Nick Tedrow’s first-half goal.
The Wildcats’ defensive effort was at least as impressive. The visiting Coyotes entered the match having scored two or more goals in four straight matches, 16 goals in their six matches, and had not been shutout all year. But Keohane made the only three saves he was forced to make and the Chico State defense limited Cal State San Bernardino to just 11 shots on the day. The Wildcats have now recorded three straight shutouts to open CCAA action.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region entering the weekend, improved to 3-0-0 in the CCAA with the win. They also moved into sole possession of first place in the conference’s North Division with Sonoma State’s 2-2 tie against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Wildcats are now the only team in the CCAA without a loss or a tie on their conference ledger.
The roots of Chico State’s first goal traced back to Kevin Gibson’s header of a 50/50 ball near midfield. His header found the head of Ryan Nevarez, who headed the ball to the feet of Tedrow streaking toward the corner flag. He stopped on a dime near the top of the box, however, and chipped a shot over the goalkeeper, who was guarding the near post, and into the far side netting for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute.
Ryan Struckmeyer set the next goal in motion by winning another 50/50 ball at midfield. He rolled a pass that found Crim in stride sprinting down the left sideline, allowing him to beat his defender to the end line. Once there he crossed a ball into the box where it was knocked around a bit before falling at the feet of Armstrong. Seemingly defended well, Armstrong remedied that situation in a flash, spinning to his left and cracking a left-footed shot into the back of the net. That gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead just 3:50 into the second half.
Crim played a picture perfect give-and-go with Benjamin Moukoko to put himself back in position for a cross less than six minutes later. This time, though, instead of quickly crossing the ball, Crim cut back inside toward the top of the box and lined low cross to Crain who volleyed it home beautifully in the 56th minute.
Less than two minutes later, Crim was on the goal-scoring end of things when he headed Armstrong’s cross to the near post for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
The 1981 team started the season with a school-record eight straight wins, a mark the 2008 Wildcats will attempt to match when they play their first conference match on the road at San Francisco State Friday afternoon. The only other time the Wildcats started 7-0-0 was in 1970. Sunday’s win also makes the 2008 Wildcats just the fifth team in program history to go unbeaten over their first seven matches. Only the 1981 and 1980 (5-0-3) were unbeaten through eight matches. No Chico State team has ever been unblemished through nine.
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