POMONA—The Chico State men's soccer team was on the doorstep of another impressive road result before a late penalty helped host Cal Poly Pomona pull out a 1-0 win Sunday afternoon at Kellogg Stadium.
 
Both teams came into the match rolling. The Wildcats had won four straight, including three in a row away from home. Cal Poly Pomona had won three in a row on its home pitch.
 
The Broncos forced the action in the first half, and the Wildcats wrestled control away in the second. But a Chico State turnover at midfield with just over six minutes remaining in regulation set in motion the deciding play of the match. Cal Poly Pomona quickly countered and Wildcats defender Joshua Belda was whistled for a foul inches inside line marking the 18-yard box.
 
The referee, ruling that the foul took place inside of the box, pointed to the spot, awarding the Broncos a penalty kick.
 
As Wildcats goalkeeper Damion Lewis dove to his right, Cyro Oliveira hit the penalty into the opposite corner for what proved to be the match winner.
 
Chico State slipped to 6-3-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with just its second loss in its last 15 road matches.
 
But the Wildcats are still in solid shape, sitting in second in the conference standings with five of their final seven home regular-season matches scheduled to take place at University Soccer Stadium in Chico.
 
Cal Poly Pomona improved to 5-4-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the CCAA. However, the Broncos will play six of their final eight on the road.
 
Twice Chico State seemed to be on the doorstep of taking the lead. In the 39th minute, Cooper Renteria flicked Lewis' long clearance and then played a beautiful give-and-go with Eddie Zecena to get the ball on the dribble to the end line. He kept the ball in bounds with a tremendous effort and then played the ball back to the PK spot where Fabian Roman had found some space. Roman's one-time attempt was headed off the line by a Broncos' defender.
 
In the 83rd minute, just before the Broncos took the lead, Jeremiah Egujie nearly put Chico State ahead. The senior striker found some space in a sea of gold and green jerseys to hit a rocket from a very tough angle just six yards away from the goal. The ball looked as though it might find the top shelf before Broncos goalkeeper Jakob Hansen got a single mitt on it to deflect it away for a corner.
 
The Wildcats will be back in action Sunday at home against UC Santa Cruz. The non-conference matchup is scheduled to kick off at noon.