SAN FRANCISCO—For the second time in three days the Chico State men's soccer team faced an early deficit on the road against a good team. And for the second time, the Wildcats rose to the challenge to snag three crucial points on the road.
 
They literally rose. Consecutive headers from Matt Hafizi to Justin Bethke led to both Wildcats goals in a 2-1 victory at San Francisco State.
 
Chico State knotted the score in the 24^th minute when Hafizi headed a cleared corner back into the mix from 30 yards out, Bethke flicked it on from the penalty spot, and Noah Ross buried a left-footed volley from eight yards inside the near post. The ball never hit the ground after leaving Hafizi's head.
 
In the 62^nd minute, the pair gave Chico State the lead for good on a very similar play. This time the corner kick ricocheted around the box before bouncing out to Hafizi at the top of the 18-yard box in front of the right post. He headed it toward that post and Bethke rose to flick it, getting just a piece of it. That slight touch was enough to throw off the keeper's timing and the ball snuck through him and inside the near post.
 
Chico State improves to 7-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats are tied at the top of the CCAA table despite playing their first four conference matches on the road.
 
San Francisco State, which had won five straight entering Sunday's match, fell to 5-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the CCAA.
 
Chico State's win snapped its two-match losing skid at San Francisco State. The Wildcats, who had not won at SF State since 2013, are now 15-3-2 in their last 20 meetings with the Gators.
 
Four of the Wildcats' five shots Sunday were on frame, while San Francisco State mustered seven shots, only two of which were on frame.
 
Chico State will play its first two conference home matches next weekend, taking on defending NCAA West Region champion Cal Poly Pomona (3-3-2, 2-0-1 CCAA) Friday at 7 p.m. and 18^th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino (5-1-1, 2-1-0) Sunday afternoon at 2.
 
After that, the Wildcats will play three more on the road before returning home to play their final three CCAA matches at University Soccer Stadium.