Following this weekend, the next time the Chico State women's soccer team plays at home, they'll be closing in on the finish line of the regular season. That makes the Wildcats' matches against Cal State East Bay Friday and Stanislaus State Sunday seem bigger than the average early-season conference home affairs.
 
The Wildcats are 5-2-1 overall and 1-1 in the CCAA. They've played very well at home where they are unbeaten in four matches, going 3-0-1. But after this weekend, the Wildcats will play four straight road matches before returning home for four straight to end their conference slate.
 
Chico State hosts Cal State East Bay Friday at 4:30. That's the first match of a women's and men's soccer doubleheader. Sunday, Stanislaus State is in town for an 11:30 a.m. showdown.
 
Friday is also Faculty/Staff appreciation night. Chico State faculty and staff can get up to four free passes simply by coming by the main office in Acker Gym 135. Chico State students receive free admittance to all Chico State regular-season home contests.
 
Cal State East Bay is 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the CCAA heading into their match against Stanislaus State Wednesday at 4:30. Stanislaus State enters that match 6-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the CCAA.
 
The Wildcats feature three of the top 10 scorers in terms of points per game, in the CCAA. Pooja Patel has four goals and two assists, Shelby Lanksbury three goals and two assists, and Carlie Reader two goals and four assists.
 
Reader ranks third in the conference with 0.5 assists per game and Lindsay Dias is seventh with 0.38. Patel's four goals are tied for fourth in the CCAA.