The Chico State men's soccer team will pack one of the nation's top defenses for a road trip to face two of the nation's most prolific offenses this weekend.
 
The Wildcats, 5-2-1 overall and 3-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, rank 22^nd in the nation in goals-against average and 24^th in shutout percentage. They have held four of eight opponents without a goal.
 
Keeping the sheet clean will be a challenge this weekend. The Wildcats will face Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 3 p.m. The Coyotes sport the top-scoring offense at 2.43 goals per match. Sunday, Chico State will take on Cal Poly Pomona, the team that leads the CCAA in shots taken per match (16.9).
 
With the way the Wildcats' offense has been playing, a shutout may not be necessary. Chico State has tallied multiple goals in five of its last six matches and gone 4-1-1 during that stretch.
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Chico State at Cal State San Bernardino
3 p.m. PDT, Premier Field, San Bernardino
• Webcast: NA
• LiveStats: https://www.csusbathletics.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
  
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Chico State at Cal Poly Pomona
2 p.m. PDT, Kellogg Stadium, Pomona
• Webcast: https://broncoathletics.com/watch/?Live=21&type=Live
• LiveStats: https://broncoathletics.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
 
WILDCATS NEWS
One third of the way through their CCAA slate, the Wildcats are tied with Cal State Dominguez Hills for second in the standings with nine points. UC San Diego leads the way with 15. But the Wildcats have a match in hand against each of those teams.
 
For the third consecutive week Chico State rose one spot in the United Soccer Coaches West Regional rankings this week. The Wildcats are now No. 6.
 
They are unbeaten on the road this season at 2-0-1 and have lost just once in their last 13 matches away from University Soccer Stadium (9-1-3).
 
Three Wildcats rank among the nation's top 30 statistically. Goalkeeper Damion Lewis, the reigning CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, ranks 14^th in shutouts and 22^nd in goals-against average. Cooper Renteria is tied for 26^th in the nation and second in the CCAA with two game-winning goals. And Jeremiah Egujie ranks 30^th in the nation in shots on goal per game, averaging 2.0.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Cal State San Bernardino (5-2-0, 2-0-0 CCAA)—The Coyotes are rolling, having won four straight while outscoring their opposition by a combined 12-1. They have reeled off six straight home wins after opening the season with a 2-1 loss to Simon Fraser, which is currently the nation's top-ranked team.
 
Danny Ortiz has averaged an assist per match, which ranks second in the nation. And in the last four matches, the senior has posted staggering totals of four goals and six assists. Meanwhile, reigning CCAA Player of the Week Fabian Roman has three goals and an assist in the Coyotes last four.
 
Chico State leads the all-time series between the squads 15-6-2 and is 5-0-1 in its last six in San Bernardino. The Wildcats' last loss there came on Oct. 13, 2002. Chris Wondolowski had the Wildcats' lone goal in a 3-1 defeat. Since that match, Chico State has scored 15 goals in the five matches there since. Since the start of 2003, the Wildcats have gone 13-3-2 against the Coyotes.
 

Cal Poly Pomona (3-4-0, 1-1-0 CCAA)—Last year's CCAA and NCAA Championship West Regional champion and picked by the conference's coaches to win again in the CCAA's annual preseason poll, Cal Poly Pomona has stumbled a bit out of the gate.
 
The Broncos are 3-1-0 at home, however. And all three of those victories have come via golden goal.
 
The Broncos finished 17-6-1 last season (8-2 at home) and advanced all the way to the national semifinals. They have reached the NCAA Regional Championship match in each of the past three seasons.
 
Chico State leads the series 14-11-1.