MEN'S SOCCER CLINCHES REGULAR SEASON MPSF TITLE WITH 1-1 TIE AT UNLV
11/1/2009
LAS VEGAS - The Sacramento State men's soccer team clinched their first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season championship since 2001 with a 1-1 double overtime tie at UNLV on Sunday, November 1.
With the victory, the Hornets record moves to 9-5-2, 5-0-1 in MPSF play, while UNLV moved to 7-5-4, 1-3-2 in the MPSF. Sacramento State clinched the regular season crown with 16 points, after San Jose State dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to the New Mexico Lobos, giving both the Spartans and the Lobos four conference wins and two losses, for 12 points, with just one game to play each.
Sacramento State will also receive a first round bye as the number one seed in the MPSF Tournament, which will pit the leagues top six teams against each other from Nov. 12-15 in Denver, Colo.
The Hornets wasted little time opening the scoring, as in the 4th minute, senior Scott Crandall found the back of the net off of a free kick from the foot of freshman Max Alvarez, giving Sacramento State a 1-0 lead. For Crandall, it was second goal of the season, with Alvarez collected his second assist and team leading 18th point.
Sacramento State looked to extend the lead in the 27th minute, but junior Ernesto Carranza had his shot saved by Rebels 'keeper Roland Swanson.
At the half, UNLV held a 7-4 advantage in shots, with both teams putting two attempts on goal.
The second half saw UNLV tie the score in the 88th minute, as Peter Rodriguez netted a blast from the top of the box for an unassisted goal, his first of the season, to force overtime.
In the first 10 minute golden goal period, senior David von Stockhausen put the Hornets lone shot of the period high, and the teams went to a second overtime period.
In the second session, Crandall posted the Hornets lone shot, pushing an attempt in the 108th minute wide of the goal. The match ended at a 1-1 tie.
The Hornets were led by two shots apiece from Carranza, Crandall, von Stockhausen and sophomore Matthew Tellez. Sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Oliver posted four saves in 110 minutes in goal.
UNLV was paced by Nicholas DeLeon, who posted five shots, while Nick Marshall added four, with both players putting one on goal. Swanson posted five saves in goal for the Rebels.
With the tie, the Hornets school record winning streak ended at five games, but they set a new school record in the process with a six match unbeaten streak.
LAS VEGAS - The Sacramento State men's soccer team clinched their first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season championship since 2001 with a 1-1 double overtime tie at UNLV on Sunday, November 1.
