Head Coach Felipe Restrepo and his Chico State men's soccer program have made campus and community leadership a priority over the past few years. One way this commitment has been realized is in the program's partnership with the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry, which strives to provide access to healthy food for the University's food-insecure student population.
 
That partnership reaches its annual climax on Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry Night at University Soccer Stadium, which takes place Thursday night. The team's supporters are encouraged to bring a donation to the important 7 p.m. matchup with Cal State San Marcos.
 
The Wildcats, fighting for a first-round California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament home match and NCAA

Championship Tournament berth, wrap up the regular season Saturday at 2 p.m. versus UC San Diego. The team's sensational senior class—Luke Dennison, Coby Cueva, Esten Schroeder, Damion Lewis, Joshua Belda, Nick Lopez, Jeremiah Egujie, Fabian Roman, and Ryan Caro—will be honored prior to the match.
 
Fans who desire to support the program's partnership with the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry are asked to bring canned and boxed foods, hygiene products, and cash donations. Currently, the pantry is especially in need of canned protein (black and refried beans, chicken, and fish), canned meals (stews, chili, soups), hygiene products, and healthy snacks (protein bars, nuts, dried fruit). You can also text "chicocares" to 71777 to make a monetary donation or simply clock the "Donate to the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry" link at the top of this page.
 
Last season, fans contributed roughly 1,000 food items and $500 in cash donations. We would love it if you could help us to give even more this season.
 
 
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
Cal State San Marcos at Chico State
7 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico
• Webcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/chico/
• LiveStats: https://chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
UC San Diego at Chico State
2 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico
• Webcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/chico/
• LiveStats: https://chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
 
WILDCATS NEWS
The team's senior class is a big one, totaling nine, and they have played a big role in the team's recent success. They are 14-4-0 at home in conference play over the past three seasons.
 

Goalkeepers Dennison and Lewis rank two-three in career goals-against average at Chico State, respectively. Lewis is tied for third with 20 career shutouts and fourth in career wins with 28. Caro, Cueva, and Belda have played major roles in a defensive third that has been among the best in the conference year after year. Egujie has been one of the most dominant strikers in the CCAA over the past two seasons, thanks in large part to the support of talented midfielders Schroeder, Roman, and Lopez.
 
The Wildcats, who have already locked up a CCAA Tournament berth, could finish anywhere between second and sixth place, depending on this week's results. But there is still much to play for. They would earn a first-round bye by finishing second, host a first-round game if they finish third or fourth, or be on the road Tuesday night if they finish fifth or sixth.
 
Currently ranked No. 8 in the NCAA West Region rankings, the Wildcats are also looking to improve their NCAA Championship Tournament hopes. Six teams from the West will get that opportunity.
 
 
Scouting the Opponents
Cal State San Marcos (7-6-2, 3-5-2 CCAA)—After a 6-0 start the Cougars have fallen out of the race for a postseason berth. They've won just one match since. Much of that can be traced to struggles on the road, where they have lost four in a row.
 
This will mark the third meeting between these programs. The Wildcats won the first meeting, in 2015, 2-1 in in Chico. The teams drew 1-1 in 2016 in San Marcos. And last season in San Marcos, Egujie scored 21^st hat trick in Chico State men's soccer history in a 3-0 victory.
 
UC San Diego (12-2-2, 6-2-2 CCAA)—The Tritons are ranked No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region, but they have not yet clinched a postseason berth. They enter this week in sixth place and could wrap up a CCAA Tournament berth with a win or tie Thursday night at Stanislaus State, or a Cal State Monterey Bay loss or tie at Humboldt State.
 
If the Tritons have had a weakness, it's been their play on the road. After starting the season with 10 straight road matches, they were on the road for four straight matches and went just 1-2-1. They started last weekend with a huge 1-0 home win against Cal State LA before beating Cal State Dominguez Hills in overtime.
 
UC San Diego leads the all-time series 12-7-4. They last met in Chico in 2015 in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
The Wildcats won last season's meeting in La Jolla 2-0, allowing only one shot on goal in registering the shutout.