DENVER - The Sacramento State men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to the first place team in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the Denver Pioneers, on Sunday, Nov. 2.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 7-7-2, 2-5-0 in MPSF play, while the Pioneers improve to 8-5-2, 6-0-1 in the MPSF.
The Pioneers opened the scoring in the 34th minute, as Kyle Christensen scored on a diving header, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Denver added insurance in the 45th minute before halftime, for the second straight match between the two clubs, as Collin Audley connected on a scoring strike from the top of the box, giving Denver a 2-0 lead into intermission.
The Hornets pulled to within one goal in the 77th minute, as sophomore Fernando Cabadas scored his second goal of the season, off of a cross from fellow sophomore Ernesto Carranza. But before Sacramento State could find the tying goal, Denver added a third goal in the 84th minute, as Christensen found the back of the net once again to give the Pioneers a two goal victory.
For the match, Denver outshot the Hornets 15-10, with the Pioneers holding an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal. Senior Blake Nunes and juniors Scott Crandall and Zach Tuss posted two shots apiece for the Hornets, while junior 'keeper Ryan Kenny posted five saves in goal.
Sacramento State closes out the home portion of their schedule with a pair of contests at Hornet Soccer Field this coming weekend. The Hornets host New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 7, before facing UNLV on Sunday, Nov. 9 on Senior Day.
DENVER
