POMONA – Another shutout. Another Ferid Celosmanovic goal. Not just any other win. Celosmanovic struck for his eight goal of the season and the 21
st of his Chico State career 1:27 into overtime as the Chico State men’s soccer team collected a crucial win at Cal Poly Pomona Sunday, handing the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)–leading Broncos just their second loss in the last nine matches and moving into a tie with Cal State L.A. for the fourth and final CCAA Championship Tournament berth.
The Wildcats’ defense limited the Broncos to just one shot on frame, and goalkeeper James Stroud saved that in the 77
th minute. Cal Poly Pomona put up 15 shots in all and the conference’s leading scorer Luis Gonzalez got off six. But none of Gonzales’ were on target as the Wildcats racked up their eighth shutout in 14 matches this season.
They improved to 8-3-3 overall and 7-3-2 CCAA, remaining in the thick of the race for one of the four CCAA Championship Tournament berths. Chico State actually moved into a tie with Cal State L.A. for the fourth and final CCAA Championship Tournament berth with four matches to go. They each have 23 points after the Golden Eagles
tied Cal State San Bernardino 1-1 Sunday. (Teams receive three points for a one and one for a tie.) CCAA North Division leader Sonoma State has 25. Cal Poly Pomona (which fell to 9-4-1 overall and 8-3-1 in the CCAA) and Cal State Dominguez Hills are now tied for the South Division lead with 25 points.
The winners of the North and South Divisions will be at the CCAA Championship Tournament in Turlock Nov. 4-6, along with the two teams with the next two highest point totals, regardless of division.
Fourth-year senior Nick Tedrow set up Celosmanovic’s fifth game-winning goal of the season and the 10
th of his career. Tedrow touched a through ball to the right side of the goal, just off the edge of the goalie box, where Celosmanovic waited to punch it home low.
The Wildcats wrap up their regular season home slate next weekend when they host Cal State East Bay on Pack The House Night Friday at 7 and Cal State Monterey Bay for Senior Day Sunday at 3 p.m. They’ll finish their regular season schedule Oct. 28 and 30 at Humboldt State and Sonoma State, respectively.
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