Pioneer Men's Soccer Wins First Round Match in CCAA Tournament, 1-0 at Chico State
CHICO, Calif. - In a historic moment for the program to open the 2024 CCAA Men's Soccer Tournament presented by FloCollege, the No. 6 seed Cal State East Bay men's soccer team secured its first-ever CCAA postseason victory with a 1-0 win over No. 3 seed Chico State on Sunday. The triumph at University Soccer Stadium in Chico marked a significant milestone for the Pioneers since joining the CCAA in 2009.
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MATCH SUMMARY |
The match-winning moment came in the 43rd minute when Yuto Hatayama capitalized on a pass from Aaron Farnan. Hatayama skillfully maneuvered to the right before unleashing a long-distance shot that found the right side of the net, giving the Pioneers the decisive 1-0 lead. This goal, Hatayama's second of the season, proved to be the difference in a tightly contested game.
Cal State East Bay's defense put on a stellar performance, frustrating the Chico State offense for much of the match. The Wildcats were unable to register a shot until the 78th minute, a testament to the Pioneers' defensive prowess. Goalkeeper Adan Corona played a crucial role, making a vital save in the 84th minute to preserve the shutout and secure the victory.
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NOTABLE STATS |
- The Pioneers outshot Chico State, 11-2, with a 3-1 advantage in shots on target.
- Pablo Almontes, Bennett Richards, and Julian Valle each contributed two shots on goal for Cal State East Bay, keeping constant pressure on the Chico State defense.
- In net, Corona's shutout was his fifth of the season.
- East Bay's win over Chico State was the first for the program since joining the CCAA in 2009.
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers will now face Cal Poly Pomona in the first CCAA Tournament Semifinal. The match is scheduled for Friday, November 15, at Pioneer Stadium in Hayward, California, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. As Cal State East Bay continues their historic run, they'll look to carry the momentum from this landmark victory into the next round of the tournament. The Pioneers and Broncos met in a regular season match on October 11 in Hayward, where Cal Poly Pomona won 2-1 on a goal scored in the final second of regulation.
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