MEN'S SOCCER SET FOR SECOND ROUND TEST AGAINST NO. 8 UCLA
11/20/2009
HORNETS SET TO TANGLE WITH FORMER CONFERENCE FOE UCLA IN SECOND ROUND Sacramento State will travel to UCLA to take on the sixth seeded Bruins in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. The Hornets head into the match with the Bruins, who are 10-3-4 and ranked No. 8 in the latest NSCAA/Adidas coaches poll, riding a 10 match unbeaten streak. Sacramento State is 8-0-2 since a 2-1 loss at San Jose State on October 8. In the last NSCAA Far West region poll, published Nov. 10, UCLA was ranked third, while the Hornets were ranked eighth.
Winners of the Pac-10 title for the second straight year, UCLA is making its 27th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having won the national title four times (1985, 1990, 1997, and 2002). They have advanced to the College Cup 12 times, with their most recent trip coming in 2006. The Bruins were members of the MPSF along with the Hornets from 1992-1999, and posted a perfect 4-0-0 record against Sacramento State. The last meeting between the two clubs came in 1998 at Hornet Soccer Field, a 3-0 victory for UCLA.
BAKER’S HEADER IN OVERTIME GIVES MEN’S SOCCER 2-1 VICTORY OVER LOYOLA MARYMOUNT IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA’S
Sophomore Bryan Baker headed home the game-winning goal in the first overtime session off of a free kick from junior Fernando Cabadas, giving the Sacramento State men’s soccer team a 2-1 overtime victory over host Loyola Marymount, and their first ever NCAA Tournament win.
The Hornets had their first strong opportunity in the 15th minute, as following a Loyola Marymount foul, Sacramento State earned a free kick from just outside the box, but junior Ernesto Carranza’s shot was saved by Lions ‘keeper Patrick Sampson. Freshman Max Alvarez, the leading scorer in the MPSF this season, had his first crack at a shot in the 23rd minute, but pushed his long blast from 25 yards out just wide of the goal.
Sacramento State scored their first strike in the 28th minute, as Alvarez had a blast on goal deflected away by Sampson, but the ball found the awaiting foot of senior Scott Crandall, who blasted it into the net for his fourth goal of the season, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
After intermission, Loyola Marymount gained control of the play for the next 45 minutes, taking 13 shots, including the game tying goal. In the 74th minute, Rafael Baca fed Vincent Ocampo, who took one touch and hammered the ball past sophomore Hornet ‘keeper Bryan Oliver to tie the score at 1-1.
LMU had the first chance of the overtime session, but Oliver came up with a big save of a shot off the foot of Brock Smith in the 96th minute, keeping the score tied at 1-1.
Following a Lion foul from 25 yards out, Cabadas served a free kick that found the head of Baker, who scored his second goal of the season to send Sacramento State on to the round of 32. Cabadas also made history on the assist, as he broke the school record for assists in a single-season with nine.
For the match, the Lions outshot the Hornets 22-12, but Sacramento State was more dangerous with their chances, putting six of their shots on goal, to just four for LMU.
Alvarez led the Hornets with four shots, while Cabadas, Carranza and Crandall each added two apiece. Oliver posted three saves in goal for the Hornets, and improved his record on the season to 8-1-2.
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.
HORNETS SET TO TANGLE WITH FORMER CONFERENCE FOE UCLA IN SECOND ROUND
