TURLOCK – Following Friday’s disheartening home loss to rival Sonoma State, the nationally-ranked Chico State men’s soccer team understood that its road to a second straight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title wouldn’t be as straight as once hoped. It’s a good thing reigning CCAA Offensive Player of the Year knows how to negotiate turns. Celosmanovic bent a free kick from near the touchline inside of the near post for his second goal of the afternoon in the Wildcats’ 2-0 victory at previously unbeaten Cal State Stanislaus.

The 14th-ranked Wildcats improved to 2-1-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the CCAA with the win, while Cal State Stanislaus dropped to 3-1-0 (1-1-0 CCAA).

James Stroud made a pair of saves for the Wildcats, who limited Cal State Stanislaus to just nine shots overall and only those two on frame. Making his first start of the season, Stroud snatched his second career shutout.

Celosmanovic put the Wildcats up 1-0 by converting a 13th-minute penalty kick. In the 29th minute, another player seeing his first action of the season – junior transfer Chris Paulo – made a nice hustle play to chase down a ball and was fouled near the touch for a free kick, which Celosmanovic put home in breathtaking fashion.

Each team mustered just nine shots and Cal State Stanislaus took seven corner kicks to Chico State’s five.

This was the first of five consecutive road matches for the Wildcats, who will then finish the season playing six of their last 10 at University Soccer Stadium beginning with a rematch against Cal State Stanislaus on Sept. 30. They will take on Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. next Sunday.

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