No matter where this 2017 Chico State men's soccer season ends, the program will owe a debt of gratitude to this season's eight-man senior class. Frankie Palmer, Donta'e Garcia, Carter Johnson, Dylan Wakefield, Christian Roman, Matthew Tarr, Sasha Peranteau, and Triston Montoya have all contributed much to the program. But Sunday's Senior Day ceremony would certainly be even more meaningful if it ended in a postseason-clinching victory.
This weekend's matches against Cal State East Bay (Friday at 7 p.m.) and Cal State Monterey Bay (Sunday at 2 p.m.) will mark the Wildcats' final two regular-season home matches of 2017. The Wildcats can clinch a CCAA Tournament berth this weekend with two victories or a win and a tie. Fans are encouraged to arrive early Sunday to take part in the Senior Day ceremony.
The Wildcats are playing for their second straight postseason berth.
Chico State enters the weekend ranked No. 7 in the West Region at 8-4-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Cal State East Bay enters Friday's match with a record of 3-9-2, including 0-7-1 in the CCAA. Cal State Monterey Bay, which will play at Stanislaus State Friday before continuing north to Chico, is 2-10 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
CCAA Tournament Outlook
Chico State is currently fourth in the CCAA standings but has games in hand against two of the three teams directly above. With two wins this weekend, the Wildcats would clinch a CCAA Tournament berth and rise at least as high as third place. They could go all the way to the top. The top six teams at the close of the regular season will advance to the CCAA Tournament. The top two earn first-round byes and a spot in the tournament semifinals in La Jolla.
NCAA Tournament Outlook
The first edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings were released on Wednesday and the Wildcats are ranked No. 7 in the West. The CCAA Tournament champion and the regular-season champions of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and PacWest Conference will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Championship West Regional. The next three highest-ranked teams will join them.
