With its defense putting on a clinic, the Chico State men's soccer team's offense followed suit in the second half, scoring twice for a runaway 2-0 victory against visiting Cal State East Bay. Noah Ross scored his first goal of the season in the 55^th minute and Gabriel Delich scored the first of his collegiate career in the 79^th Thursday at University Soccer Stadium. Meanwhile, Chico State's defense allowed only nine shots and only one shot on goal, all night.
 
Now unbeaten in seven of their last eight, the Wildcats improved to 5-3-4 overall and 2-1-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). They moved into a tie for fourth place in the process. Cal State East Bay had won two in a row heading into play, but slipped to 4-5-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the CCAA.
 
Chico State finished with a 21-10 edge in shots and 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. One of those corners led to the Wildcats' first goal.
 
Taking the corner kick, Adrian Fontanelli connected with Ross at the far post. Ross's flying header bounced off the turf and then off the right post. Ross hit the ground after rising high to meet the ball but got quickly to his feet and got his right boot to it, stuffing it inside the post for a 1-0 lead.
 
Goalkeeper Luis Albarran, who made the only save he had to Thursday to collect his fifth shutout of the season and 10^th of his career, got the run-up to the second goal started. He played a wonderful ball down the right flank that bounced once before Benjamin Ralph could bring it down and push it ahead to Delich on a run into the top-right corner of the 18-yard box. Delich took one touch toward the end line while shielding his defender from the ball before slamming a right-footed shot off the far post and in.
 
The Wildcats will enter the second half of their conference schedule Sunday when they travel to take on Stanislaus State in Turlock. That match, which will be broadcast on the CCAA Network, is scheduled to kickoff at 11:30 a.m.