Box Score

TURLOCK -- Playing on the road in the California Collegiate Athletic Association is no easy task. The Cal State Stanislaus men's soccer team learned that earlier this season at Chico. Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats learned their lesson.

A single goal scored just 1 minute, 4 seconds, into the game was all the Warriors needed Saturday as they avenged an early-season loss to Chico State by winning 1-0 at Warrior Stadium.

The win was a key one for the Warriors in the CCAA North Division, pulling them within two points of the Wildcats in the North. Cal State Stanislaus is now 7-5-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the CCAA. The Wildcats fall to 7-4-3 overall and 4-3-3 in the CCAA.

The Warriors are in third place in the CCAA North Division with 13 points, trailing Sonoma State (22) and Chico State (15). Overall, the Warriors are in sixth place in the CCAA behind Cal State LA (28), Sonoma State, Cal State Dominguez Hills (19), Cal State San Bernardino (18) and Chico State.

"We knew if we won this game tonight that it would put us back in the hunt to get here at the end of the season," Warriors head coach Dana Taylor said.

Cal State Stanislaus is hosting the 2009 CCAA Soccer Championship tournament, Nov. 6-8, 2009 and that has been the goal of the Warriors to qualify for the conference tournament.

Edgar Santana sent a strike sailing over Wildcats goalkeeper Michael Keohane just 64 seconds into the game for the only goal. Right off the opening whistle, the Warriors served the ball down the sideline into Wildcats territory.

The Wildcats cleared the ball out but Luis Guzman corralled the ball and passed it to Santana at the top of the 'keeper box. Santana shot from the left side and sent the ball long, crossing to the right and into the corner of the goal.

"I am proud of the way the guys put everything on the pitch tonight," Taylor said.

After holding the 1-0 lead to halftime, it was all defense for the Warriors in the second half. Javier Rosales made eight saves in the game, several of them with his body fully extended, to preserve the shutout for the Warriors.

Chico State controlled the ball on the Warriors' side of the field for all of the final 15 minutes of the game. Time and time again, the Warrior defense came up big in turning away corner kicks and throw-ins.

"The thing I'm most pleased with is that it was about the team," Taylor said. "Everyone bled for each other in the field tonight."

The Warriors will head south next weekend to take on Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino on the road. The Warriors face the Broncos Friday at 7 p.m. and will take on the Coyotes Sunday at 11:30 a.m.