MEN'S SOCCER READY TO ATTEMPT TO TAME LIONS AT NCAA TOURNAMENT
11/18/2009
HORNETS TAKE ON LOYOLA MARYMOUNT IN FIRST NCAA GAME
After winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, the Sacramento State men’s soccer team earned the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament bid, and will take on the LMU Lions on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The game will be broadcast live on www.lmulions.com, with live stats also available for free from the site.
The Hornets hold a 3-1-0 mark against opponents common to the Lions (10-8-2, 5-5-2 WCC). Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount each played a total of three common opponents, with each team playing one of the opponents twice.
The Hornets defeated San Francisco on the road (2-1), while the Lions split their season series, winning at home (3-2, OT) and losing on the road (3-1). The Hornets were 3-1 victors at Cal State Bakersfield in MPSF play, while LMU fell to the Roadrunners on the road 1-0. Loyola Marymount defeated San Jose State (1-0) near the beginning of the season, while the Hornets split their regular season series, losing on the road in non-conference play (2-1) before defeating the Spartans in conference action (4-3).
HORNETS COME BACK THREE TIMES IN TITLE MATCH TO ADVANCE IN SHOOTOUT AND CLAIM FIRST MPSF TOURNAMENT TITLE
The Sacramento State men’s soccer team earned the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with a 2-2 tie against New Mexico, after the Hornets advanced in a shootout by a tally of 5-4, on Sunday, Nov. 15.
After the first four kicks of the shootout, the Lobos held a 4-3 advantage on the Hornets, meaning Sacramento State would need to score on their attempt, and stop New Mexico during their turn to force a sixth round of kicks. Junior Fernando Cabadas connected on his attempt, tying the shootout at 4-4. David Murphy stepped up for his attempt to win it for New Mexico, but he had his shot blocked by Hornet sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Oliver, forcing a sixth round of the shootout. Junior defender Diego Marroquin connected on his attempt to give Sacramento State a 5-4 lead in the sixth round, but Ryan Farquharson of New Mexico had his shot stopped by Oliver, giving the Hornet men’s soccer team their first ever trip into the NCAA Tournament.
“We came back three times in the match, and I think it really showed the character and resiliency of this team,” head coach Michael Linenberger said. “It’s our first conference championship and our first trip to the NCAA Tournament, so this is a huge step for our program. We hope to continue our season for a few more games.”
New Mexico got a header from Stephen Brown in the 25th minute to take a 1-0 lead, but Sacramento State senior Scott Crandall took the rebound off of a shot by junior Ernesto Carranza that went off the post and jammed it into the back of the net in the 58th minute, tying the score at 1-1.
The Lobos scored on another header, this time by Justin Davis, in the 69th minute, giving New Mexico a 2-1 lead midway through the second half.
But, Sacramento State would have the equalizer in the 83rd minute, as Carranza sent a cross into the box that was chested into the goal by freshman Matt Linenberger for his second goal in as many games, tying the score at 2-2, and forcing overtime.
In the first extra session, New Mexico had four chances, including one on goal, but were unable to find the back of the net.
In the second overtime period, Oliver made three saves in goal for the Hornets, as Sacramento State held on to force the shootout.
In the shootout, freshman Max Alvarez connected in the first round of kicks, as did New Mexico’s Michael Reed, tying the score at 1-1. The score became 2-1 in favor of the Lobos in the second round, as Crandall pushed his attempt over the crossbar, and Michael Green connected on his attempt for New Mexico. Carranza and senior David von Stockhausen were successful in rounds three and four for the Hornets, as were Simon Ejdemyr and Lance Rozeboom for the Lobos, making the score 4-3 in favor of New Mexico before the Hornet heroics from Oliver, Cabadas and Marroquin.
Cabadas was named the tournament MVP, with von Stockhausen and Linenberger also earning all-tournament team honors.
MATT LINENBERGER STRIKES FOR FIRST CAREER GOAL AS HORNETS TAKE DOWN UNLV IN MPSF SEMI
Freshman Matt Linenberger scored his first career goal just under two minutes into the second overtime session, giving the No. 1 seeded Sacramento State men’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over the sixth seeded UNLV Rebels in the semifinal round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament on Friday, Nov. 13.
In a match that featured constant snow flurries and a frozen pitch, penalty kicks seemed to be looming, as the field work had already begun during the break between the first and second overtime session to clean the penalty area should the need arise. Linenberger, a defender by trade, had played just 13 minutes in the contest before being inserted to start the final 10 minute golden goal session. In the 102nd minute, junior Fernando Cabadas, the MPSF’s leader in assists, sent a through ball that stuck on the snow near the top of the box, where Linenberger met up with the ball on a sprint, dribbled, and fired an un-natural right footed shot that bounded off the right side of UNLV ‘keeper Roland Swanson and into the back of the net for the game winner. The goal was just the left-footed Sacramento native’s second shot of the season.
Prior to the goal, both teams struggled with a pitch covered in snow, and were unable to take advantage of many opportunites on frame. After Sacramento State held a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal in the first half, the Rebels came back to post five chances on goal in the second half that were all stopped by the Hornets sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Oliver. Similar to their regular season encounter, which ended as a 1-1 tie on a late goal UNLV in the 87th minute that was the lone blemish on the Hornets conference record, the Rebels seemed to have some momentum on their side thanks to second half chances heading into the overtime session. But, UNLV’s lone attempt on goal was stopped by Oliver, and the Hornets and Rebels went to a second overtime session, with Sacramento State coming out victorious.
For the match, the Rebels posted a 16-10 advantage in shots, and held in 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. Stephen Sifuentes posted three shots to pace UNLV, while Swanson collected three saves in goal.
First team all-MPSF performer Cabadas led the Hornet charge with five shots, including three on goal, while the MPSF Player of the Year, junior Ernesto Carranza, added three shots. Oliver posted a season-high eight saves in goal for the Hornets, and collected his fourth clean sheet of the season.
EIGHT PLAYERS NAMED ALL-MPSF, CARRANZA PEGGED AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR, LINENBERGER EARNS COACH OF THE YEAR
The Sacramento State men’s soccer team had eight players earn all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors, with junior Ernesto Carranza being named Player of the Year and head coach Michael Linenberger earning Coach of the Year honors, as announced by the conference today.
21st year head coach Michael Linenberger led the Hornets to their second Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season title, and first since 2001. Sacramento State posted a 10-5-2 record in the regular season, and collected an unbeaten 6-0-1 record in MPSF play. The 10 wins tied the school record set during the 1992 season, while records fell for most consecutive wins (five), longest unbeaten streak (seven and counting) and longest home winning streak (seven and counting) over the course of the season. For Linenberger, the honor marks the third of his career. He was named MPSF Coach of the Year for the first time following the 2001 season, and shared the honor in 2005.
Midfielder/forward Carranza led the Hornets during conference play with four goals and two assists, and recorded two game-winning goals. A native of Oakdale, Calif., Carranza struck for the game-winner in the 67th minute of the Hornets 2-1 triumph over Denver on October 18, and one game later collecting the match’s lone goal in the Hornets 1-0 victory at Seattle. For his career, Carranza has 11 goals and 11 assists, with his assist total ranking third in school history. He becomes the first Hornet to earn MPSF Player of the Year honors.
Joining Carranza on the first team were junior midfielder Fernando Cabadas (Sacramento, Calif.) and junior defender Diego Marroquin (Petaluma, Calif.). Cabadas tied for the conference lead during the regular season with seven assists, also adding a goal in the Hornets 4-3 victory over San Jose State. A former unrecruited walk-on, Cabadas has now earned first team all-MPSF honors the past two seasons. Marroquin anchored a Hornet defense that allowed just 1.15 goals per game during his first season in the Green and Gold. The former junior college All-American also added the game-winning goal in the Hornets 2-0 victory over Air Force on Oct. 16.
Two players earned second team all-conference honors, senior defender David von Stockhausen (San Jose, Calif.) and freshman striker Max Alvarez (Napa, Calif.). A 2009 team captain, von Stockhausen started 16 matches on the defensive backline during the regular season, scoring two goals and adding one assist. Alvarez led the MPSF in scoring (20 points) and goals (nine) during the regular season, with his nine goals marking the third highest single-season total in program history.
Three players were recognized on the honorable mention squad, senior midfielder Scott Crandall (Elk Grove, Calif.), sophomore midfielder Matthew Tellez (Canyon Country, Calif.), and sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Oliver (Sacramento, Calif.). Crandall started all 17 regular season games in the wide midfield for the Hornets, scoring two goals and added an assist. Tellez made the transition from forward to defensive midfielder midway through the season, and scored one goal while adding two assists. Oliver started seven of the team’s final eight matches in goal, and posted a 6-1-1 mark, with a goals against average of just 0.81 goals per game. Each player earn all-conference accolades for the first time.
FAMILY AFFAIR BETWEEN CLOSE FRIENDS ON THURSDAY
Thursday’s match between Loyola Marymount and Sacramento State will be a battle between two close friends, Hornets head coach Michael Linenberger and Lions head coach Paul Krumpe. What makes the game extra special for both coaches is that their sons will take the pitch in the match.
Sacramento State freshman Matt Linenberger has appeared in 17 of the team’s 19 matches, making nine starts in the defensive backfield. But in the MPSF Tournament, Linenberger became an offensive threat, scoring a game-winning goal in overtime against UNLV, and collecting the game-tying goal in the MPSF Title match against New Mexico.
Loyola Marymount sophomore Tyler Krumpe has appeared in all 20 of the Lions matches, making 17 starts on the defensive backline. His lone goal of the season was a timely one, scoring in the fifth minute of overtime in the Lions 2-1 upset of then No. 19 San Diego.
