HAYWARD, Calif. – Chris Akwaja scored twice and Ferid Celosmanovic netted his 11th goal of the season – the most by a Wildcat since 2003 – as the Chico State men’s soccer team won 3-1 at Cal State East Bay Sunday afternoon. Chico State’s win, coupled with losses by Cal State Stanislaus and Sonoma State, put the Wildcats in firm control of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division lead.

Akwaja gave Chico State the lead with a 20th-minute tally, assisted by Zach Bradford. Cal State East Bay equalized just before the half, but Akwaja scored the game winner in the 75th minute, assisted by Tyson Crim, who also set up Celosmanovic’s 89th-minute goal.

True freshman goalkeeper Sam Evans made five saves to earn the win between the pipes.

Chico State improved to 10-4 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA. They now lead Cal State Stanislaus by four points (wins are worth three points and ties one) and Sonoma State by five with only four games remaining on the regular season schedule. The winner of the North Division earns an automatic bid in the CCAA Championship Tournament.

Cal State East Bay dropped to 2-12-2 overall and 1-9-2 in the CCAA.

The Wildcats host three of their final four games during a six-day stretch beginning Friday night with a showdown with San Francisco State at 7 p.m. They play Cal State Monterey Bay Sunday and Cal State Stanislaus Wednesday, Oct. 27. They’ll wrap up the regular season at Cal State Stanislaus Friday, Oct. 30.

Celosmanovic’s 11 goals are the most scored by a Wildcat since reigning Major League Soccer Player of the Week Chris Wondolowski scored a dozen times in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.