SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In the 104th minute, sophomore Josh Zimbrich notched the golden goal in Sacramento State’s 2-1 victory over UNLV on Sunday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field.
The Loomis, Calif., native broke free down the left side and chipped a ball into the box that caused problems for the Rebels’ defense. In an attempt to clear the ball out of the penalty box, an UNLV defender deflected the ball into his own net.
The Hornets improve to 6-10-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the Rebels fall to 0-14-2 and 0-8-0 in league.
The teams were scoreless for over 86 minutes until Sacramento State senior Ryan Rhoads scored his second goal in as many matches in the 87th minute. In his last game at Hornet Field, Rhoads struck a 30-yard blast to the right upper corner past UNLV goalkeeper Calvin Bailey. It was the Modesto, Calif., native’s seventh goal of the season and 20th of his career, ranking second all-time. His 49 points are also second in program history.
Sacramento State failed to hold its one-goal advantage, surrendering the equalizer less than two minutes later. UNLV’s Ben Haugland had an open net to one-time his third goal of the season. The Rebels’ Lamar Neagle dribbled past the Hornet defense before sending a quick pass across the box to find Haugland wide open.
Sacramento State outshot UNLV 13-7, with Rhoads, Oscar Sandoval and Eliot Ricks-Chambers creating several dangerous chances. A combination between Ricks-Chambers and Sandoval almost created a scoring opportunity less than two minutes into the first overtime, but Bailey was able to make the stop. In regulation, Rhoads also had a header go wide after reaching the end of Pedro Lupercio’s cross.
The Hornets are now on a three-match undefeated streak and have one game remaining in 2006, traveling to San Jose State for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Nov. 3.
Sunday’s match was the final home game for Rhoads, Lupercio, Ricks-Chambers, Sandoval, Ismael Echeverría, Utodi Madu, Jesse Manton, Eric Ortiz and Andrew Tamm.
