HAYWARD—The Chico State men's soccer team left Chico Thursday to head out on its first multi-match road trip of the seasons. The Wildcats travelled home Sunday with six points.
 
Chico State followed up Friday's thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind win at Cal State Monterey Bay with a dominating 2-0 result Sunday at Cal State East Bay.
 
Cooper Renteria cracked a beauty from 15 yards to give Chico State the lead, and Jeremiah Egujie's second-half cross led to an own goal as the Wildcats improved to 5-2-1 overall and 3-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The result marked their third straight victory.
 
Chico State's defense limited Cal State East Bay to seven shots and two corners. Goalkeeper Damion Lewis made four saves to secure his fourth clean sheet in eight matches this season and the 17^th of his career. Lewis is now six shutouts shy of the program's career record. He also moved into a tie for eighth with his 23^rd career win between the pipes.

 
The Wildcats are 12-0-4 in their last 16 matches against the Pioneers and 6-0-1 in Hayward since last falling there in 1996.
 
The match was scoreless before a group of Chico State substitutes help set up Renteria's go-ahead strike in the 42^nd minute. Substitute Michael Hirsch and Matt Hafizi connected up the right flank to help set up a corner kick, which was taken by another sub, Eddie Zecena.
 
Garrett Hogbin headed Zecena's service back across the box from the far post. A Pioneers defender attempted to clear it but only got a touch on the ball, rolling it back out toward the top of the 18-yard box. Renteria, who had been lurking near the PK spot, ran the ball down, and in one powerful motion, turned his hips and ripped it one time through traffic inside the right post.
 
With Cal State East Bay pushing for the equalizer in the second half, the Wildcats created numerous dangerous chances in transition. Esten Schroeder just missed a goal flying in to attempt to volley an Egujie cross home. And Alex Fluitt couldn't quite get on balance, just missing wide on Schroeder's pass that left him with an open goal to fire at.
 
They eventually got the second goal in the 78^th minute.
 
Samuel Licona's one-timed pass put Egujie in behind the defense on the left flank. Fluitt was waiting for a cross at the top of the six-yard box, and as Egujie approached the edge of the box along the end line, he attempted to thread a pass between the defender and goalkeeper. The defender reached to get a boot on it and keep it from slipping into the open space in the mouth of the goal, but his angle was tough and he instead knocked it off the inside of the post and in.
 
Chico State will head back on the road next weekend for matches at Cal State San Bernardino Friday and Cal Poly Pomona Sunday. After that, they'll wrap up the regular season with five of their last seven at home.