ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - Chico State men's soccer senior goalkeeper Nickolas Molina has been named the FloCollege/CCAA Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance during the week of Sept. 7-13. This recognition marks Molina's first award of the season and the first for the Wildcats since last year.

Molina's defensive capabilities were on full display as he recorded two consecutive shutouts, leading his team to back-to-back victories. On Thursday, he delivered a crucial performance with six saves in a 1-0 away win against Dominican, securing a clean sheet. Just two days later, he contributed to another shutout in a 2-0 home victory over Hawai`i Pacific, facing a total of 21 shots over the two matches.

A transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, Molina has demonstrated exceptional skills in goalkeeping, averaging six saves per game while consistently maintaining a shutout and securing wins for the Wildcats. His efforts have been instrumental in the team's current three-match winning streak, bringing their overall record to 3-3-0.

Chico State is set to begin CCAA play against Cal State East Bay on Friday at 7 p.m. at University Soccer Stadium.