Micah Miranda, James Stroud and Dan Houck have a right to be secretly selfish about wanting this weekend to be an especially good one for the Chico State men’s soccer team. It’s the last regular season home weekend of their careers, and it could go along way toward making sure that trio gets a taste of the postseason in their last collegiate campaign. The Wildcats will attempt to keep their hold on first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division when they host Cal Poly Pomona Friday night at 7 and San Francisco State Sunday at 2.
The Wildcats’ three seniors will be celebrated prior to kickoff Sunday.
Miranda has maintained a starting role in the midfield throughout the past two seasons. Stroud, who split time in goal with Sam Evans in each of the last two seasons, entered camp with an arm injury that’s kept him on the sidelines in 2012. Enter Houck, who came out to play in his final season of eligibility, and has provided a solid safety net as a backup goalkeeper while Stroud has regained his strength.
Their services have not been called upon due to Evans’ solid season. He and the Wildcats have shutout five of their last seven opponents and two in a row. They’ve allowed just two goals during that span while building a record of 6-2-3 overall and 5-1-3 in the CCAA.
Meanwhile, newcomers Matt Hurlow and Akwafei Ajeakwa have combined for seven goals and two assists while injecting the team’s balanced offense with blazing speed. Eight different Wildcats have scored goals and 12 have found the back of the net or made a pass that led to a goal for the Wildcats, ranked No. 4 in the West Region.
Cal Poly Pomona is 3-6-2 overall and 1-6-2 in the CCAA, having sustained four 1-0 losses. San Francisco State is 1-8-3 overall and 0-6-3 in the CCAA, but has forged ties against UC San Diego and Cal Poly Pomona over the past few weeks.
Following these final home matches, the Wildcats will wrap up the regular season on the road at Cal State San Bernardino, UC San Diego and Cal State Stanislaus.
