A sign on the wall at The Oasis Bar & Grill in Chico reads: “Free Drinks Tomorrow.” Don’t get too excited. If you go in there tomorrow, the same sign will still be there. It got me thinking, Chico State Men’s Soccer Coach Felipe Restrepo could hang a somewhat similar sign in his team’s locker room that reads: “The easy match is the next one.”
Nine of the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s 12 teams have a record of .500 or better. Cal State East Bay, which the Wildcats needed a second-half penalty kick to beat 1-0 on the road last Sunday, long-time rival Humboldt State, and 2010 NCAA Championship Tournament participant Cal State San Bernardino are the three teams that don’t.
So it should go without saying (though I’ll say it here) that the Wildcats face a pair of challenges this weekend when they host Cal State Stanislaus Friday at 7 PM for Youth Soccer Night and Humboldt State Sunday at 2 PM.
What they hope will make the job a bit easier is finally playing at home, something they did only once in their first eight matches of the season. Friday marks the start of a four-match home stand and the Wildcats will play six of their final 10 regular-season matches at University Soccer Stadium.
Chico State is 4-2-2 overall and tied for second in the CCAA’s North Division at 3-2-1. Sonoma State leads the North Division with 12 points. Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay are tied for second with 10 points, Cal State Stanislaus is just behind with nine points, and Humboldt State is in fifth with six.
The winners of the CCAA’s North and South Divisions will earn a berth to the CCAA Championship Tournament, along with the next two teams with the highest point totals regardless of division. Teams receive three points for a win and one for a draw.
The Wildcats earned one of their biggest victories of the season at Cal State State Stanislaus in their first meeting on Sept. 11. Ferid Celosmanovic scored twice and James Stroud was forced to make just two saves to earn the shutout in goal. Celosmanovic also tallied against the Warriors in last season’s home match. Chris Akawaja notched a goal and assist in Chico State’s 2-1 win.
Humboldt State enters the weekend 2-5-0 overall and 2-4-0 in the CCAA. The Lumberjacks are winless in four tries on the road. Chico State swept the season series from Humboldt State last season, winning tight matches 1-0 at home and then 2-1 on the road.
Nick Tedrow tallied a goal and an assist in the road victory, and defenders Evan Johnston (assist) and Mike Janjigian (goal) teamed for the lone goal in Chico State’s victory at home.
