Some of Ferid Celosmanovic’s Chico State teammates have taken to calling him "Cheeky" after the way he described his first goal in a Wildcat men's soccer uniform. "Chippy" may be next. Celosmanovic hit a beautiful chip shot into the far corner from 15 yards for his first of two goals in Chico State's dominating 2-0 victory against bitter rival Sonoma State Sunday at University Soccer Stadium.
Let’s pause for a moment and enter the minds of the Wildcats defensive third as they read this account of the match… “Ferid’s good, but he’s always getting all the headlines,” they might be thinking. Well, Chico State’s defense played at least as well as their offensive hero Sunday. Starting defenders Jacob Darr, Mike Janjigian, Ryan Nevarez, and Evan Johnston helped the Wildcats limit a Sonoma State squad that entered the weekend averaging 20 shots and nearly three goals per match to just seven shots (only one of which was on goal).
The Seawolves were constantly forced to play the ball back or attempt long passes over the defense that proved to be fruitless time and time again while suffering their first shutout of the season.
Chico State, ranked No. 20 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region, improved to 7-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with its second shutout of the weekend and fourth on the season.
Sonoma State, ranked No. 23 in the nation and No. 4 in the West Region, dropped to 5-3-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the CCAA. The loss to the Wildcats snapped a 12-match unbeaten streak against their rivals dating back to 2003 – the year the Wildcats played in the national title game.
Celosmanovic now has six goals in his first season with the Wildcats. The West Valley Community College product and native of Bosnia has scored some pretty ones. But Sunday’s first may have topped even those.
Jacob Darr created a turnover in the Wildcats end and sent a pass into Sonoma State’s territory where only Celosmanovic and two Seawolves defenders were waiting. Celosmanovic got a touch on it between the two defenders, pushing the ball down field twice. He then outmuscled them both to get to the ball the final time near the top right corner of the box, and when he did, instead of taking another touch, he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper who was creeping out to cut off the angle and into the far corner of the net.
The goal, in the 10th minute, gave Chico State the lead for good.
As they did in the first half, the Wildcats struck quickly on a counter attack to start the second half. This 
time Tyson Crim flicked on a clearance with has back heel to Celosmanovic at the top-right corner of the box. Celosmanovic cut hard back into the box to beat his defender and then hit a rocket from 10 yards, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance to get the ball except for out of the back of the net.
The Wildcats finished with a 9-7 advantage in shots and both teams took four corner kicks.
Nick Tedrow took one of the Wildcats’ first shots and almost gave them the lead even earlier than Celosmanovic did. Playing a give-and-go with Celosmanovic, Tedrow drilled a shot from 20 yards that careened off the cross bar near the far post upper V. It was the third time he hit the frame this weekend.
Chico State will wrap up its string of six consecutive home matches next weekend against two teams that entered this weekend ranked among the top-10 in the nation. Ninth-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills visits Friday at 4:30, and top-ranked Cal State L.A. will face the Wildcats Sunday at 11:30.
BOX SCORE
