For the Hornets, they fall to 4-8-1 overall on the season and 3-4 in the MPSF. It was also Sacramento State’s first loss of the season at Hornet Soccer Field (4-1-1).

After going down 2-0 in the first half, Sacramento State came on strong in the second half, outshooting the Pioneers 3-1 and taking all five of their corner kicks in the final 45 minutes.

Sophomore Ryan Rhoads put the Hornets on the board in the 71st minute, when he volleyed in a throw-in from Hornet midfielder Eric Ortiz, past Denver goalkeeper Justin Durst, making the score 2-1.

For Rhoads, a Modesto, Calif. native, it was his team-leading fifth goal of the year. He has scored in four of the Hornets’ last five matches. He also now leads the team with 10 points.

Just minutes later junior midfielder Marco Ramirez took a shot toward goal that deflected and fell to junior Andrew Tamm, who put the ball past Durst at the far post, for what was supposedly the equalizer. But Tamm’s score was called back after a questionable offside call.

The Pioneers first scored in the 12th minute when the Hornets gave up possession of the ball in their own defensive third. Travis Hendricks was able to score his sixth goal of the season when he put his shot far post, past Hornet goalkeeper Matt McDougall.

Denver struck again seven minutes later, when Kyle Christensen floated a ball over the top of the defense to Christian Bowers. Bowers brought the ball down and aimed far post past a diving McDougall to make the score 2-0.

The Pioneers outshot the Hornets 10-5, led by Hendricks and Christensen, who each had two shot on frame. Senior forward Patrick Nelle and Rhoads led Sacramento State with one shot on goal apiece.

Sacramento State will next play Air Force at 1 p.m. on Sunday.