Still buzzing from watching the World Cup this summer? There are plenty of opportunities to get your soccer fix over the next few weeks at University Soccer Stadium. The Chico State men kick off a stretch of eight soccer matches in eight days at University Soccer Stadium this Thursday night.
The Wildcats open the season against Seattle Pacific in a 7 p.m. clash of two perennial NCAA Championship Tournament contenders. Saturday, they'll host Western Washington at 7 p.m.
The California Collegiate Athletic Association's coaches have picked Chico State to finish fourth in the 13-team CCAA this season following last season's 10-6-2 campaign. The Wildcats return eight starters and 14 letterwinners from that squad, including goalkeeper and reigning CCAA Defensive Player of the Year Damion Lewis, and First Team All-CCAA and Second Team All-West Region striker Jeremiah Egujie.
Seattle Pacific, 11-5-1 in 2016, was picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Washington, which went 6-6-5 last season, was picked to finish fourth.
Damion Lewis (left) and Jeremiah Egujie both return after earning United
Soccer Coaches All-West Region honors last season.
Links to live stats and live streaming video of every Chico State men's soccer match in 2018 will be available in the calendar section of our homepage and on the men's soccer schedule page.
If last year's matches are any indication, the season is about to get started with a bang. The Wildcats opened last season in Seattle and earned a 2-1 victory on Egujie's match-winning goal in the 88
th minute. It was his second goal of the night.
Two days later, the Wildcats won 3-2 at Western Washington when Egujie scored the match-winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the second and final overtime period. Western Washington was in its attacking third with 25 seconds remaining when Egujie won a clearance near midfield. Using exceptional touch and blazing speed, he outmaneuvered a trio of defenders to make his way into the box and then hit the corner of the net from 12 yards out for the stunning golden goal.
The Wildcats finish a stretch of three home matches in seven days on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 4:30 p.m. vs. Concordia University (Ore.).
The Chico State women will play three home matches and host two neutral site games between Friday and Thursday, Sept. 6.
Eight matches in eight days at University Soccer Stadium
Thursday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m.—Chico State men vs. Seattle Pacific
Friday, Aug. 31, 4:30 p.m.—San Francisco State women vs. Colorado School of Mines
Friday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m.—Chico State women vs. Regis University
Saturday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.—Chico State men vs. Western Washington
Sunday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m.—San Francisco State women vs. Regis University
Sunday, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.—Chico State women vs. Colorado School of Mines
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 4:30 p.m.—Chico State men vs. Concordia University (Ore.)
Thursday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m.—Chico State women vs. Seattle Pacific
