The wait is over for the Chico State men's soccer team. The Wildcats will get their chance to exact a measure of revenge this weekend. Two teams that have certainly been circled on their mental calendars—Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills—will visit University Soccer Stadium on the opening weekend of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. Chico State and Cal State LA will tangle Friday night at 7, and Cal State Dominguez Hills visits Sunday afternoon at 2.
The Wildcats were on the road to face the same two teams to finish conference play last season, hoping for two good results that would net them the 2017 CCAA title. Instead, they played to a scoreless draw at Cal State Dominguez Hills and fell 1-0 in overtime to the Golden Eagles.
Three days later, Cal State LA scored three times in the final 29 minutes to rally from a 3-1 deficit and beat the Wildcats 4-3 in the first round of the CCAA Tournament at University Soccer Stadium, ending Chico State's season.
The Wildcats are off to a 2-1-1 start this season and coming off a week in which they beat Concordia (Ore.) 2-0 and drew at Fresno Pacific 2-2.
They were picked to finish fourth in the CCAA's Preseason Coaches Poll. Cal State LA was picked to finish second, and Cal State Dominguez Hills seventh.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Chico State vs. Cal State LA
7 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico
• Webcast:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/chico/
• LiveStats:
http://www.chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Chico State vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills
2 p.m. PDT, University Soccer Stadium, Chico
• Webcast:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/chico/
• LiveStats:
http://www.chicowildcats.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Wildcats News
Reigning Wildcat of the Week Justin Bethke notched two assists and helped the Wildcats register their second shutout last week.
The Wildcats are 59-24-12 at home during Felipe Restrepo's tenure as head coach.
The Wildcats jumped into the United Soccer Coaches West Region poll this week at No. 8.
Chico State ranks fourth in the CCAA with a goals-against average of 0.75 and third in corner kicks with 29. Jeremiah Egujie is tied for the conference lead with four goals in four matches.
Scouting the Opponents
Cal State LA (3-1-0) — The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 20 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region. They opened the season with wins of 2-0 against Northwest Nazarene and 1-0 against Saint Martin's. They fell 2-1 to Simon Fraser at home before bouncing back with a 3-0 shutout of Concordia-Irvine last Saturday.
The Golden Eagles finished last season 14-5-3. They won the CCAA Tournament title before falling to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Cal State Bakersfield transfer Robin Lindahl leads Cal State LA (and is tied with Egujie for the CCAA lead) with four goals, including two match winners.
Cal State LA leads the all-time series between these teams 15-6-5. Chico State's last win against the Golden Eagles came at home on Sept. 7, 2013. Since then, Cal State LA has won five times and the teams have played to a pair of draws.
Cal State Dominguez Hills (0-4-0) — The Toros have scuffled defensively, allowing 10 goals through their first four matches. They will play at Stanislaus State Friday before visiting Chico for Sunday's match.
Cal State Dominguez Hills returns nine letterwinners and just one starter and are led by first-year head coach Sean Lockhart. The Toros finished 13-5-3 overall last season and won the conference title with a record of 9-2-1. However, their conference title was vacated following the season.
Cal State Dominguez Hills leads the all-time series 15-12-3, but Chico State has claimed the last two meetings at University Soccer Stadium, winning 3-1 in 2013 and 2016.
