MEN'S SOCCER LOOKS TO REBOUND AT HOME AGAINST AIR FORCE AND DENVER

10/14/2008

HORNETS LOOK TO REBOUND AT HOME AGAINST AIR FORCE AND DENVER
    After a two-game conference road swing that saw the team drop both games during a weekend for the first time this year, the Sacramento State men’s soccer team will look to rebound against Air Force and Denver. Air Force comes into Friday’s matchup with a 1-2 mark in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while Denver enters the week with an unblemished 3-0 record, which they will put on the line at San Jose State on Friday night in their first conference game outside of the state of Colorado.

HORNETS HOLD ON TO NSCAA/ADIDAS FAR-WEST REGION RANKING
    The Hornets remained in this week’s NSCAA/Adidas Far-West Region top 10 poll at the No. 10 position, after spending last week at the No. 5 position. The ranking of fifth last week is the highest ranking the Hornets have ever achieved. The team has also been ranked for seven straight weeks, which surpasses the number of weeks the team has been ranked in the poll previously in program history (3).
    Sacramento State has received votes in the NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 poll twice during the season, including last week. Opponents from earlier in the season UC Irvine (19) and UC Davis (7) are ranked in the poll, which is topped by defending national champion Wake Forest, who is unbeaten and untied at 10-0.

MEN’S SOCCER FALLS ON THE ROAD TO NEW MEXICO, 2-1
    The Sacramento State men’s soccer team fell to New Mexico by a score of 2-1 in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
    Sacramento State found itself attempting to dig out of a hole early, as New Mexico lit up the scoreboard twice in the first seven minutes to take a 2-0 lead. In the fifth minute, Zach Tierney’s throw-in was flicked on by Simon Ejdemyr, who found the head of Justin Davis, who connected on his third goal of the year to make the score 1-0. Late in the seventh minute, New Mexico took advantage of a penalty kick, as Ejdemyr beat Hornet ‘keeper Bryan Oliver on the conversion, extending the lead to 2-0.
    A further blow against the Hornets occured in the 42nd minute when senior Josh Zimbrich was sent off the field with a red card, having already had a caution against him in the 33rd minute. The score remained 2-0 at intermission, with the Lobos holding a 10-4 shot advantage in the period.
    The second half saw the Hornets cut the lead to one despite the man disadvantage, as sophomore Ernesto Carranza converted a penalty kick in the 69th minute to make the score 2-1. For Carranza, the goal marked his first of the season, and continued his streak of successful PK’s, now having scored on all three of his career attempts.
    Sacramento State could pull no closer, as the team was no credited for a shot on goal during the contest, besides the penalty kick conversion.
    Oliver posted six saves in goal for the Hornets, facing 19 shots including eight on frame, while his counterpart Eric Staver was not awarded a save, facing seven shots including one on net. Carranza led the Hornets offensively with two shots, while five other Sacramento State players post one shot apiece, while the Lobos were led by Justin Davis and Chris Wright, who each posted six shots.

HORNETS MPSF ROAD OPENER GOES WAY OF REBELS
    The Sacramento State men’s soccer team fell to UNLV in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, 4-1, on Friday, October 10 at Johann Memorial Field.
    After being held without a goal during their first two conference matchups, UNLV peppered the net with shots during the first 45 minutes of play. After having their first three shots on goal saved, the Rebels scored in the 16th minute as Ben Haugland’s bicycle kick gave UNLV a 1-0 lead. The lead grew in the 25th minute as Haugland assisted on Lamar Neagle’s goal, giving the Rebels a 2-0 lead.
    The Hornets then held possession, getting shots from sophomore Fernando Cabadas and senior Adam Owens off of corner kicks, but failing to find the back of the net. The Rebels then added more insurance, as Stephen Sifuentes took a long shot from the top of the box that was misplayed by the Hornets, giving UNLV a 3-0 halftime advantage.
    Sacramento State cut the lead down to 3-1 to start the second half, as in the 53rd minute, junior David von Stockhausen found the foot of senior Blake Nunes, who connected on his fifth goal of the year. The comeback was shortlived however, because 24 seconds later Sifuentes found the back of the again, as his deep shot from 25 yards out hit off of the far post and off of a Hornet into the back of the net, giving UNLV a 4-1 victory.