Just four matches in to 2012, the ups and downs of the season already have Chico State Men’s Soccer Coach Felipe Restrepo wondering what’s around the next bend for his team. The Wildcats have followed the highs of important wins with the lows of frustrating losses in each of the first two weekends of the season.

But they’re hoping to avoid the lows altogether this weekend when Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay visit Friday night at 7 and Sunday at 2 p.m., respectively. These California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division matchups will be the first of the season for the Wildcats, ranked No. 8 in the West Region.

Chico State is 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the CCAA after opening conference play last weekend by beating South Division favorite Cal State L.A. 3-0 Friday but losing to Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-1 Sunday.

The Wildcats opened the 2012 season with a 2-1 win against Western Washington before falling 3-1 to Seattle Pacific, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Cal State Monterey Bay enters the weekend 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA after losing a shootout to Sonoma State, 4-3, in its conference opener last Friday. The Otters opened the season with a 3-0 loss at Fresno Pacific. 

Chico State owns a 10-6-1 lead in the all-time series and boasts three straight home wins against Cal State Monterey Bay over the past three seasons by a combined score of 9-2.

The Wildcats host Cal State East Bay Sunday, a team they’ve beaten seven straight times and gone 16-1-1 against over their last 18 matches. Chico State, which is 9-0-1 against the Pioneers over their last 10 meetings at University Soccer Stadium, leads the all-time series 40-14-4.

Cal State East Bay enters the weekend 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA. The Pioneers will play at Cal State Stanislaus Friday before coming north to Chico.