The odds were stacked against Omar Nuno. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was dribbling toward the top of the box, where two Cal State Monterey Bay defenders waited with plans to poke the ball away. But Nuno slipped the ball by and nimbly wedged his body between the two. Their only remaining options were to let him through or grab him.
 
They chose the latter and the official whistled one for a foul in the box, netting Nuno a penalty kick. He made it count, curling his ball off the goalkeeper's fingertip and into the right upper-90 for the match-winning goal in the 28^th minute of Chico State's 1-0 win.
 
Such has been the story of the Wildcats' season. Once in ninth place in the conference standings and road weary, having played 10 of their first 13 matches away from home, the Wildcats' postseason hopes were fading fast.
 
But they found a way to wedge themselves right back into the race for the sixth and final California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berth by going 3-0-1 over the last four matches and 4-1-1 at home.
 
Now all that's left to do is convert on the opportunity they've created for themselves.

 
A win Saturday at home against San Francisco State – on Senior Day no less – would get the Wildcats into the postseason for the fifth time in the past six years.
 
That match kicks off at 4:30 p.m. If the Wildcats win, they'll play a first-round CCAA Championship Tournament match on the road Tuesday.
 
It will be no easy task. San Francisco State enters the match with a record of 7-6-3, having allowed only 13 goals in those 16 matches. The Gators have won two straight, but a seven-match winless skid (that included three ties) during the middle portion of the season cost them a chance at a CCAA Championship Tournament berth.
 
The Wildcats' defense can be quite stingy as well. Led by center midfielders Russell Ellyson and Jesus Ramos, Chico State controlled the middle of the pitch Thursday. That pair, as well as defenders Justin Walmsley, Sean Gallagher, Coby Cuevas and Isaiah Dargan, limited the Otters to just two shots on goal.
 
Wildcats goalkeeper Andrew Matthews saved both of those en route to his second shutout of the season.
 
Nuno, tied for the league lead with 10 goals, took a match-high six shots Thursday, four of which were on goal.  

Chico State improved to 7-6-3 overall and 5-4-2 in the CCAA while Cal State Monterey Bay finished its season with a record of 8-8-0 overall and 5-7-0 in the CCAA.