LA JOLLA, Calif.—The Chico State men's soccer team just couldn't wait to get on the road again to notch another impressive win. The Wildcats snapped defending California Collegiate Athletic Association champion UC San Diego's 18-match home unbeaten streak with a 2–0 victory Friday in the CCAA opener for both teams Friday at Triton Soccer Stadium.
Dylan Wakefield and Carter Johnson each scored for the first time this season, both set up by a pair of teammates, and the Wildcats' defense limited the Tritons to a season-low 10 shots.
Chico State improved to 3-2-0 with its fifth straight road victory, dating back to last season. UC San Diego, picked to win the CCAA again this season by the conference's coaches, absorbed its first loss of the season, dipping to 2-1-2.
All three of the Wildcats' wins have come on the road. They won 2–1 at Seattle Pacific in the season opener. Two days later the Wildcats won 3–2 at Western Washington University. Neither team has lost since.
It does not appear their road mojo was moved by a pair of home losses last weekend.
Dylan Wakefield (#8 in white) notched his first goal fo the season and
fifth of his career to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.
The Wildcats jumped in front on Wakefield's strike in the 31
st minute. Justin Bethke played a ball out wide to Eruvey Arceta, who whipped in a cross headed from the right side home by Wakefield inside the near post. Arceta, a true freshman from Oakley, now has an assist in four consecutive matches.
Johnson gave Chico State some breathing room a third of the way into the second half with a tap-in, set up by a short corner from Fabian Roman to Frankie Palmer and then directed back across the mouth of the goal by Ryan Caro.
Caro, Bethke, Joshua Belda, and Coby Cueva each played a full 90 to key the Wildcats' best defensive performance of the season. Goalkeeper Damion Lewis needed just one save for his first clean sheet of the season and sixth of his career. He earned the shutout with that save. A Chico State defender attempted the clear the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, but Matt Merrill met him there and got a boot on the ball a fraction of a second after it was hit, pin-balling it toward the goal. The resulting blast tested Lewis' focus and reaction. He passed in both areas, dipping low and to his left to keep it out of the net.
The Wildcats will attempt to keep their road record unblemished when they face Cal State San Marcos Sunday at 2 p.m.
