Absence makes the 'Cats growl stronger, and the Chico State men's soccer team feels ready to blow the invisible roof off University Soccer Stadium Thursday night. After 660 days without a meaningful soccer match and 541 days since any Chico State athletic competition, the Wildcats will square off against Western Washington University in a major West Regional showdown Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
Students get in free with a valid student ID. General admission is $10; Seniors (60 and over) and visiting students with valid student ID admission is $6; children (3-12 years of age) are admitted for $4; and children 2 and under are free.
 
The Wildcats, 130-66-31 in Head Coach Felipe Restrepo's 13 years at the helm, return five starters and 12 letter winners from the 2019 squad that finished 12-5-0 and sported the nation's 10^th best goals-against average (0.76). The Wildcats were recently picked to finish third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings in the annual preseason coaches' poll.
 
WWU picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Vikings went 3-1-1 during an abbreviated 2020 playing schedule and return 10 starters and 24 letter winners. In 2019, they went 13-5-1 overall and won the GNAC title with a conference record of 10-1-1.
 
Saturday night at 7 p.m., the Wildcats will be right back in action against another perennial West Region power and GNAC foe, Seattle Pacific. The Falcons are picked to finish third in the GNAC standings.
 
Fans who can't attend the matches live can follow them on livestats via www.chicowildcats.com.
 
Health and Safety Protocols
Thank you for supporting our student-athletes! Please be aware of the following health and safety measures for intercollegiate athletic events held on the campus of Chico State:

• Venue capacity is limited to 50% of the listed capacity for each facility.
• Spectators must follow campus health and safety guidelines: symptom check and mask indoors; mask outdoors where physical distancing cannot be achieved.
• Spectators will be limited to seating areas (bleachers and stands).
• At the end of the competition, spectators are asked to leave the venue immediately and wait outside the venue to greet participants.
• No spectators are allowed in team areas, including the playing area, bench, hallways, athletic training room, locker rooms, etc.