The defending West Region and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division Champion Chico State men’s soccer team is diving head first into conference play, hosting bitter rival and CCAA North Division favorite Sonoma State at 4:30 PM Friday. The players may wind up dreaming about diving into an actual pool with temperatures expected to sizzle well above 100 degrees at kickoff.
A heated meeting between these teams is nothing new. They combined for 12 cautions and six red cards in three meetings last season. A season-best crowd of 1,126 filled University Soccer Stadium to watch the Wildcats beat Sonoma State 2-0 in the opening round of last season’s NCAA Championship Tournament after they split a pair of matches during the regular season.
Chico State, ranked No. 8 in the nation entering the season, inexplicably dropped to No. 14 following a strong 1-0-1 weekend on the road against two of the favorites to win the Great Northwest Athletic
Conference title – Seattle Pacific (0-0 draw) and Western Washington (2-1 win). Sonoma State is No. 20, though the Seawolves’ standing is certainly in danger following a 4-0 loss to Notre Dame de Namur Tuesday. They opened the season with a 1-0 win against Academy of Art on Sept. 1, thanks to Kelly Davila’s game-winning header in the 74th minute.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 2 in the West Region according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), behind only Grand Canyon (which they beat to win the West Region title last season). Sonoma State is No. 3.
Chico State All-American Ferid Celosmanovic is a player to keep an eye on Friday. The senior scored three goals and notched two assists against the Seawolves last season, playing a role in each of the Wildcats’ five goals. Celosmanovic and true freshman Octavio Guzman have accounted for Chico State’s two goals this season, while Micah Miranda has logged the Wildcats’ lone assist.
It’s the first match of a doubleheader Friday at University Soccer Stadium. The Chico State women’s team hosts Sonoma State at 7 PM. The Wildcats will then travel to face Cal State Stanislaus Sunday at 2 PM.
The Warriors, now 2-0 on the season and ranked No. 6 in the West Region, host Humboldt State Friday at 7 PM.
