Chico State's men's soccer team and its entire student population earned important wins Thursday night.
 
The Wildcats beat Cal State San Marcos 1-0 to improve their postseason fate. Meanwhile, 20 yards from the pitch, fans were donating hundreds of food and hygiene items, as well as hundreds of dollars, to support the University's food-insecure population on Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry Night.
 
"It was another special night to be a Wildcat," Chico State Head Coach Felipe Restrepo, who spearheaded the effort, said. "I am so proud of our Wildcat Family and our amazing supporters for giving so generously to such a great cause once again."

If anyone would still like to donate, simply click HERE or drop off food and hygiene items in the bins inside the Acker Gym building.

The fans who donated Thursday night were treated to a special goal as long as they arrived early enough.
 
Esten Schroeder got them on the edge of their seats, beating a pair of defenders on a gorgeous run down the left flank. He finished the run with a service toward the far post where Justin Bethke waited to volley it back toward the PK spot. Wildcats leading scorer Jeremiah Egujie finished the job, blasting a one-timer into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season and the 19^th of his two-year career.
 
Just 3:41 into the match, the Wildcats had a 1-0 lead.

 
That was all they needed to secure the victory and improve to 11-4-1 overall and 8-3-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State San Marcos slipped to 7-7-2 overall and 3-6-2 in the CCAA.
 
Chico State's defense allowed only 10 shots all night, and goalkeeper Damion Lewis turned away all six that were on target in registering his fifth consecutive home shutout and eighth clean sheet of the season. In doing so the defending CCAA Defensive Player of the Year became the first goalkeeper in school history with eight or more shutouts in two different seasons. He also crept to within two shutouts of the school's career record with his 21^st, while moving into a tie for third in career victories with 29.
 
Defenders Ryan Caro, Joshua Belda, Garrett Hogbin, and Bethke played all 90 minutes in helping to preserve the shutout, as they, along with fellow senior defender Coby Cueva, have done many times before.
 
The Wildcats will wrap up the regular season Saturday against UC San Diego at 2 p.m. The legacy of the team's nine seniors—Egujie, Schroder, Lewis, Caro, Belda, Cueva, Luke Dennison, Fabian Roman, and Nick Lopez—will be celebrated prior to the match.
 
But they are hoping to add to that legacy, beginning Saturday. A win would not only solidify their opportunity to play a first-round CCAA Tournament match at home Tuesday night—they enter the match tied for third—but would also be a nice NCAA Championship Tournament resume builder.
 
UC San Diego is currently fifth at 7-2-2 in CCAA action, but the Tritons are 13-2-2 overall and ranked No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region. Chico State entered Thursday night's game ranked No. 8 in the West.