HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's soccer team continues its season-opening homestand with a pair of games this week at Pioneer Stadium. The Pioneers host Upper Iowa Thursday evening, followed by Regis on Saturday, in a conference challenge tournament that also includes Humboldt State.

The Pioneers are coming off an extremely successful first week in their first season under head coach Michael Bielski. They pulled away from Academy of Art for a 3-0 victory last Friday, avenging a 2-1 loss to the Urban Knights last season. On Sunday, they snuck past Holy Names 1-0 to earn the program's first 2-0 start since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Junior Michael Paiva, the team's leading scorer and an All-CCAA honorable mention selection last season, has scored in each of the first two games. His game-winner against Holy Names was a beautiful finish off a cross from Chris Arce.

Defensively, East Bay was on top of its game in the opening week. Goalkeeper Ariel Rosenmann has recorded 10 total saves in posting back-to-back shutouts. 

For their efforts, the Pioneers have moved into the top 10 in the weekly National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) West Region poll. Occupying the No. 8 spot, Cal State East Bay appears in the regional rankings for the first time in the CCAA era. 

After this weekend's mini-tournament, the Pioneers host one more non-conference game Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. vs. Dominican before traveling to Southern California to open their CCAA schedule next weekend.