With the loss to graduation of two-time All-West Region striker Jeremiah Egujie—who accounted for a third of the Wildcats' goals over the past two seasons—the Chico State men's soccer team's top concern heading into this campaign was to find a finisher.
 
He was hiding in plain sight.
 
All-West Region center back Garrett Hogbin scored his fourth match-winning goal in Chico State's fourth straight win to start the season and also delivered an assist in the Wildcats' 2-0 win against Academy of Art Sunday afternoon at University Soccer Stadium.
  
Chico State has now won 10 straight at home—nine via shutout—and wrapped up its non-conference slate with a record of 4-0-0. Academy of Art fell to 0-5-0.
 
The Wildcats were a bit slow out of the gate Saturday before taking control of the match in the second half. Hogbin broke the seal in the 50^th minute, assisted by Alex Fluitt's corner kick. Hogbin positioned himself 10 yards out from the far post and rose to meet the Fluitt's delivery with a header. An Academy of Art defender leaped in an attempt to clear the try but the ball skipped off the top of his head and crossed the goal line before another defender arrived to knock it back into the field of play.
 
It marked the 10^th assist of Fluitt's career and his second of the campaign.
 
Hogbin did a lot more running to help the Wildcats double their lead. He poked the ball away from an opponent 10 yards beyond the center stripe and attacked up the left flank with the dribble. After crossing mid field he passed ahead to Mikey Hirsch, who executed the give-and-go with precision, playing Hogbin into space in the Urban Knights' final third.
 
Hogbin's hard cross found the feet of Jacob Chong. The freshman who replaced Egujie at the top of the Wildcats' attack spun to his right to avoid one defender and then hit a left-footed shot inside the left post in the 70^th minute for his second goal of the season.
 
The assist was Hogbin's second of the season and second in as many matches.
 
Hogbin is the first Wildcat to notch four consecutive match winners since Scott Wulferdingen did it in 1989, and the second on record. He's also scored in five straight matches dating back to the 2018 finale and. If he finds the back of the net in Friday night's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener at Cal State Dominguez Hills, he'll match Arturo Barragan (1999), Felipe Ternero (1992), and Dave Vierra (1981) for the most consecutive matches with a goal in the program's history.
 
With his four match winners already this season, Hogbin is only the fifth Wildcat to notch that many in a single season since the turn of the century, joining Egujie and All-Americans Ferid Celosmanovic, Tyson Crim, and Chris Wondolowski.
 
Hogbin currently leads the CCAA in match winners, ranks second in points, and third in goals.
 
While his offensive contributions have been something of a surprise, Hogbin's defensive skills have not. He captained the Wildcats' final third to the sixth lowest goals-against average in the nation last season and the defense is at it again, having allowed just two goals in their first four matches.
 
They were even more tightfisted this weekend. After holding Fresno Pacific to nine shots Friday night (and only three on goal), the Wildcats limited Academy of Art to four shots, only one of which Chico State keeper Jose Paredes was tasked with handling. Only one of those shots came during a second half in which the Wildcats out-shot the Urban Knights 11-1.
 
After taking on Cal State Dominguez Hills in Friday's night's CCAA opener, the Wildcats will face nationally-ranked Cal State LA Sunday before traveling to Humboldt State and San Francisco State the following weekend. They will then return home to play five of their last eight conference matches at University Soccer Stadium.