BELLINGHAM, Wash. – With just seven matches at the friendly confines of University Soccer Stadium this year, it’s vital that the Chico State men’s soccer team plays well on the road. So far, so good. The Wildcats, ranked No. 8 in the nation in the preseason NSCAA/NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, beat Western Washington 2-1 Saturday at Orca field on the campus of Whatcom Community College Saturday. They’re now 1-0-1 after facing two of the top three teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason Coaches Poll on the road.

In short, the long road trip was a great start to the season.

Saturday, 2010 All-American Ferid Celosmanovic scored his first goal of the season in the 20th minute and then true freshman Octavio Guzman notched his first collegiate goal on a penalty kick after another freshman, Cody Levar, was fouled in the box. Western Washington cut the lead in half with four minutes to play, but the Wildcats held on to win.

Chico State got on the board first thanks to an assist from junior Micah Miranda, who made his first start since his freshman season. He got his first collegiate point by playing a pass from the left corner of the penalty area to Celosmanovic, who pounded it home low and toward the far post.

Levar finished with three shots and two on goal, but his biggest contribution was collecting a foul in the box in the 74th minute, 10 minutes after subbing in for Miranda. Guzman, who subbed in for the usual penalty kick taker Celosmanovic, made it count with a low blast to the left corner, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Chico State out-shot Western Washington 21-12 and got off 10 shots on goal to the Vikings’ two. The Wildcats also enjoyed a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Wildcats goalkeeper Sam Evans made a pair of saves.

The Wildcats will likely enjoy this nice road trip until the plane touches down in Sacramento. They’ll then shift their attention to rival Sonoma State, which comes to town for Chico State’s home opener and conference opener Friday at 4:30 PM.

BOX SCORE