Why not the Wildcats? Why not this weekend?
 
This has been a frustrating season for the Chico State men's soccer team. There's no getting around it. But the Wildcats believe in their teammates and talent, and they don't shy away from a challenge. It's a good thing, because they face a big challenge this weekend when they host the top two teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings.
 
The Wildcats are planning to turn this season around.
 
Chico State is coming off a stretch in which it played six straight on the road. At 1-4-3 overall and 0-2-2 in the CCAA, the Wildcats will need to start making headway this weekend if they have designs on making the postseason. They'll have to do it against second-place Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 7 p.m. The Coyotes, ranked No. 6 in the West Region, are 5-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the CCAA. They'll have to do it against first-place Cal Poly Pomona Sunday afternoon at 2. The Broncos, ranked No. 20 in the nation and No. 3 in the West, are 8-2-1 overall and 4-1-0 in the CCAA.
 
The last time the Wildcats were at home, way back on Sept. 3, they upset then-No. 11 Seattle Pacific 3-2. But they scored just twice during the six road matches that followed.
 
To get untracked, the Wildcats will have to solve two of the toughest defenses in the nation. Cal State San Bernardino allowed its first goal in five matches in a 1-0 loss to Cal Poly Pomona Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Broncos have for consecutive shutouts on their ledger.
 
But neither team has faced many scorers with the skill level of Chico State's Omar Nuño, who five goals this season and 15 in his first 25 matches in a Wildcats uniform.
 
Links to live stats and streaming video for every match this season are available on the calendar section on the Chico State athletics homepage, www.chicowildcats.com, and on the men's soccer schedule page.