Ferid Celosmanovic described his goal as "cheeky." I guess that's because "healy" doesn't sound so good. The Bosnian native who came to Chico State by way of West Valley Community College used his back heal to score the lone goal of the match in the Wildcats' 1-0 victory over Seattle Pacific University Monday night at University Soccer Stadium.

Chico State, now 2-0-0 on the season, improved to 5-0-0 in non-conference home matches under third-year Head Coach Felipe Restrepo. Seattle Pacific, coming off a season-opening draw against Humboldt State, fell to 0-1-1. The Falcons were picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason Coaches' Poll.

Nick Tedrow helped set up the goal with a strong defensive play after which he went coast to coast and forced a corner kick. Seattle Pacific failed to clear the ball, eventually leading to a Ryan Nevarez throw in. His long throw skimmed off the head of Wildcats defender Mike Janjigian and fell to the near post where Celosmanovic waited. He let it get behind him and beyond the post before looping his right foot behind his left leg and directing the ball into the net to make it 1-0 in the 61^st minute.

“Jigs kind of skimmed it off his head and I let it bounce past me and healed it in,” said Celosmanovic, describing the play. “It was a bit cheeky.”

The goal was the first in a Chico State uniform for Celosmanovic, but he and the Wildcats hope it will be the first of many. After all, he was responsible for 21 goals and 19 assists as a two-time all-conference performer at West Valley.

“We need someone who is savvy around the box – a good finisher – to be around some of the athletic players that we have and Ferid provides that,” said Restrepo prior to the season. “We think he has the potential to do some damage in (the California Collegiate Athletic Association.”

He will get his first crack at a CCAA team this weekend when the Wildcats open conference play on the road at Cal State Monterey Bay Friday and San Francisco State Sunday. The Wildcats then return home to start a six-match homestand against Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 17 at 7 PM.

Chico State true freshman goalkeeper Sam Evans collected four saves to earn his first collegiate shutout, while his counterpart, Seattle Pacific’s Zach Johnson, made five saves.

Chico State outshot its guests 19-8, including 8-6 on goal. The Wildcats also enjoyed an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks. They’ve now outshot their two opponents – Western Washington and Seattle Pacific of the GNAC – by a combined 37-12.

Celosmanovic and Tedrow both missed just high on shots from the top of the box in the first 12 minutes of the match, but neither team managed a strong chance in close.

Chico State’s best chance prior to the goal came early in the second half when Tyson Crim blasted a shot from the right angle that ricocheted off Johnson and high into the air. Tedrow’s volley was hit hard from close range, but again, it deflected off Johnson.

Janjigian, a 6-foot-3 defender, scored the game winner Thursday night against Western Washington and now has a goal and assist in his first two collegiate contests.

Nevarez, also a defender, boasts a major offensive weapon in his ability to throw in balls from out of bounds deep into the box. The senior’s assist Monday was his first of the season but the sixth of his three-year career and his fourth in the last two seasons.

With the win, the Wildcats are now 14-4-2 at home and 23-13-5 overall under Restrepo’s guidance.

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