Crim to Akwaja is becoming a nice combination for the Chico State men’s soccer team. Tyson Crim assisted on Chris Akwaja’s goal, the only one of the match, to lift the Wildcats to a 1-0 win against San Francisco State Friday night at University Soccer Stadium. It was the second time Crim assisted Akwaja’s game-winning goal in the last two games.

The Wildcats moved one step closer to winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title with the win. Ranked No. 2 in the West Region and No. 21 in the nation, Chico State improved to 11-4-0 overall and 9-4-0 in the CCAA. The Wildcats lead second-place Cal State Stanislaus by four points (teams receive three points for a win and one for a tie) and Sonoma State by five with three to play. They host Cal State Monterey Bay Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

The match lacked continuity for much of the evening with both squads struggling to find a rhythm. One of the rare exceptions came in the 17th minute.

Akwaja dribbled quickly up the center of the field to seed a counter attack. After getting past one defender and drawing two more, he knocked a pass outside to Crim sprinting alone down the right flank. Crim raced toward the end line and then cracked a cross that was deflected by a defender and fell right to Akwaja. He settled it with a touch before drilling it home from 10 yards for his seventh goal of the season and third in the past two games.

Wildcats freshman goalkeeper Sam Evans made three saves to earn his third shutout of the season. It was the team’s fifth.

Chico State’s win pushed its home winning streak against San Francisco State to 17 games. They’re 15-0-2 during that streak.

The Gators' playoff hopes took a major hit with the loss that dropped them to 7-7-1 overall and 5-7-1 in the CCAA.

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