Locked in a clash that looked destined for a draw or dramatic ending, the Chico State men's soccer team suddenly found itself on the wrong end of a 3-0 result after 13^th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino scored three times in the second half of their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) showdown Sunday afternoon at University Soccer Stadium.
 
The Coyotes opened the scoring in the 52^nd minute, added another goal in the 59^th minute, and moments after the Wildcats' closest chance of the afternoon was saved off the line, and put the match away with their final strike in the 84^th minute.
 
Chico State slipped to 7-3-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the CCAA. Cal State San Bernardino is now 7-1-1 overall and 4-1-0 in the CCAA.
 
The Wildcats held advantages of 5-1 in shots and 3-1 in corner kicks at intermission but had not been able to create much danger.
 
Wildcats goalkeeper Jose Paredes made a pair of strong saves in the 51^st minute, but had little chance to stop the Coyotes' next try. Brandon Sangbarani's long throw in bounced once in the box and over to the far post where Gerardo Flores banged it inside the left post with a waist-high volley. Flores scored again less than seven seconds later. Isaac Balderrama headed a long free kick back across the front of the net and Flores one-timed it for a 2-0 lead.
 
Chico State nearly cut the lead in half twice, but Jacob Chong's 78^th-minute effort was saved with a dive, and Alex Fluitt's chip up and over the keeper was cleared off the line by a defender in the 83^rd minute.
 
Less than a minute later, Pedro Arellano slotted a ball to Omari Mark for a finish from 12 yards out and 3-0 lead.
 
Noah Ross nearly got the Wildcats on the board in the 86^th minute but his shot clanged off the crossbar.
 
The Wildcats will hit the road for their next three matches—Oct. 18 at UC San Diego, Oct. 20 at Cal State San Marcos, and Oct. 30 at Stanislaus State—before returning home to play their final three, beginning with a Nov. 2 showdown against rival Sonoma State.