SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State’s leading scorer Oscar Sandoval played a part in each of the Hornets’ goals on Friday as Sacramento State defeated Denver 3-0 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at Hornet Field.The Hornets improve to 7-4-1 on the year and 2-2-0 in the MPSF, while also maintaining their undefeated record of 5-0 at home. It was also the fourth shutout the team has recorded this season. Denver falls to 5-6-1 on the year and 1-3-0 in the MPSF.
Sandoval, who leads the team with five goals and four assists, first struck in the 17th minute when he headed Jesse Manton’s free kick to the far post, eluding Pioneer goalkeeper Matt Bredehoft and giving the Hornets an early 1-0 lead.
It was later in the first half when Sandoval again proved to be trouble for the Pioneers’ defense. The Littlerock, Calif., native dribbled his way through the penalty box before escaping one defender and lifting a ball to Ryan Rhoads, who headed it past a diving Bredehoft.
Rhoads’ fourth goal of the season put Sacramento State ahead 2-0 in the 36th minute. The Modesto, Calif., native now has 12 career goals, leaving him just one short of cracking the program’s top-five.
In the second half, it was the work of Sandoval and midfielder Ricky Rodriguez that created the third score in the 78th minute. A quick give-and-go between the pair led to Rodriguez breaking past the Pioneers’ back line. The Vacaville, Calif., native placed his shot low and to the far post and out of reach of Bredehoft. Rodriguez now has seven career goals and nine assists.
The Hornets’ seven wins is the most for the program since 2000, with six games remaining in the regular season.
Goalkeeper Matt McDougall made one save during the match on a shot from Denver’s Travis Hendricks. Hendricks led the Pioneers with two attempts on goal, the second in the final seconds of the match with freshman goalkeeper Andrew Gangnuss making the save after coming on in the 83rd minute.
It was the Sacramento State back line of Jeff Buddenbohn, Utodi Madu, Eric Ortiz, Adam Owens and Manton that combined to hold the Pioneers to five shots during 90 minutes. The Hornets finished the match with nine shots, led by Rodriguez’s three.
Sacramento State will take a two-match winning streak into Sunday’s game against Air Force. The match is set for 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.
