Wildcats hope to put successful stamp on Chico’s soccer story

West Regional kicks off Friday at 4 PM; Top-seeded Chico State plays at 7

Thousands of children have come through the Chico Youth Soccer Program. Hundreds of adults are involved in city leagues. The Chico Rooks were one of the most successful organizations in United States professional soccer during their existence from 1993-2006. Chico State University boasted perhaps the nation’s top Division II program for more than a decade, earning 10 NCAA Championship berths from 1969-81. The 2003 Wildcats, led by this year’s Major League Soccer Golden Boot winner, Chris Wondolowski, played for the 2003 National Championship. And now, the 2010 Wildcats have a chance to put their own stamp on Chico soccer lore. And they have a chance to do it here, at University Soccer Stadium.

The Wildcats will host the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional this weekend, with a berth in the NCAA Championship quarterfinal on the line. Without a doubt, it marks the biggest collegiate soccer action on campus since the Wildcats last hosted an NCAA Championship Tournament match in 1981.

The Wildcats – the region’s No. 1 seed – face rival Sonoma State, seeded fourth, Friday at 7 PM. No. 2 Grand Canyon takes on No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino to open the tournament Friday at 4 PM. The winners will play for the West Region title and spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals Sunday at noon.

Ticket prices are as follows: $6 for general admission (or $10 for a tournament pass), $4 for senior citizens (or $7 for a tournament pass), $3 for students with ID (or $5 for a tournament pass), and $2 for children 12-under.

Fans who come out to cheer on the Wildcats are encouraged to wear red. They’ll witness a squad that has had a lot of success at home under third-year Head Coach Felipe Restrepo. The Wildcats, this year’s champions of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division, are 21-6-2 at University Soccer Stadium during that time, including 9-2-0 this season.

One of those victories came against Sonoma State, their opponent Friday night. CCAA Player of the Year Ferid Celosmanovic scored two of his conference-best 12 goals that day as the Wildcats won 2-0. But Sonoma State exacted some revenge a couple weeks later, beating Chico State 2-1 in Rohnert Park. The Seawolves enter in the NCAA Championship Tournament riding a six-game winning streak and won the CCAA Championship Tournament last weekend in Turlock.

The Wildcats have dropped two in a row after clinching the North Division crown. But the postseason is a whole new season. The opportunity is amazing for the men’s soccer program and for soccer fans all over town. The Wildcats plan to take full advantage of it. Do you?