#CCAAms: Conference Action Starts Friday for Men's Soccer
SAN RAMON, Calif. - With three teams going undefeated through non-conference play, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s soccer schedule will now begin this week.
San Francisco State, led by senior forward Ranier Plantinos’ seven goals, is off to the best start in program history with a 5-0 mark. The Gators will get an 11-day break from competition before playing their conference opener on Sept. 22 at Chico State.
Game of the Week
A pair of four-win teams will battle on Sunday in Pomona for the CCAA Game of the Week. Cal Poly Pomona (4-1) will host Cal State LA (4-0) for a 2 p.m. kickoff, marking the second contest of the week for both teams.
The Broncos’ attack is bolstered by the conference’s point leader, Sergi Monso, who has 23 points so far in 2017 with eight goals and seven assists. The Golden Eagles’ defense has allowed a CCAA-low two goals while the offense has totaled 11 goals in that span. CSULA goalkeeper Steven Barrera owns a pair of shutouts.
In the most recent meeting between CPP and the Golden Eagles, Cal State LA captured a 2-1 win in the first round of the 2016 CCAA Championship Tournament.
Around the League
In addition to San Francisco State and Cal State LA, the third and final undefeated squad is UC San Diego. The Tritons are 2-0-2 so far this year and are set for a pair of big home games this week. UCSD hosts Chico State on Friday at 4:30 pm and then challenges Stanislaus State Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Humboldt State’s schedule features six-consecutive road matches to start the season. They’ve gotten off to a strong start, going 3-1 as winners of the past three contests. This week, the Jacks wrap up the long road stretch with a Friday match at Cal State East Bay and a Sunday game at Cal State Monterey Bay. HSU plays its home opener Sept. 24 against Sonoma State.
Other Leaders of Note
Looking past the two Broncos and two Gators atop the CCAA points leaderboard, Cal State East Bay’s Evan Sanchez and Cal State San Bernardino’s Kieron Coleman have put together a series of stellar performances. Sanchez has collected four goals, two of which came last week against Southern Nazarene. For Coleman, the fast start has featured three goals and assist. Two of his scores came in last week’s 6-1 rout of Montana State Billings.
What to Look For
- The CCAA Player of the Week will be announced on Tuesday.
- View all of this week's CCAA scores at goccaa.org/scoreboard.