Senior midfielder Marco Ramirez scored the tournament-winner in the 82nd minute as Sacramento State was crowned champion of the LIU Soccer Classic on Sunday afternoon after defeating Long Island 2-1.The Hornets are now 3-1-1 on the season and off to their best start in Division I program history (1991). The victory was also the 100th of head coach Michael Linenberger’s career.
Ramirez, who earned tournament MVP honors after scoring two goals over the weekend, was responsible for the go-ahead goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in the match. Ramirez has now scored three goals in his last three games with two being game-winners.
The Modesto, Calif., native had his strike set up when freshman Jack Jones switched the field of play and crossed a ball to Pedro Lupercio on the right side. Lupercio, a Dixon, Calif., native, then found Ramirez wide open and 10-yards from goal setting up the second-year senior’s shot to the left corner of the net.
Ramirez now leads the squad with three goals in 2005, while Lupercio adds his first assist of the year (fourth career) and Jones, a newcomer out of Union Mine HS, earns his first career assist.
Lupercio, along with junior defender Utodi Madu, junior forward Ryan Rhoads and senior midfielder Ricky Rodriguez, were named to the all-tournament team.
Rhoads, who led the team in scoring in 2004, put away his first goal of 2005 to give Sacramento State the initial 1-0 lead over Long Island in the 18th minute. The Beyer HS graduate now has nine career goals. It was Rodriguez, a Vacaville, Calif., native, who set up Rhoads for the first score, notching the senior’s first assist of the season and ninth of his career, now tying him for fifth in program history.
The Blackbirds evened things in the 51st minute when Jukka Lehto got by Hornet senior goalkeeper Matt McDougall. The Hornets outshot Long Island 16-12, while McDougall tallied five saves and Blackbird goalkeeper Alex Fatovic was forced to make seven saves.
On Friday, Sacramento State tied Adelphi 1-1 with the lone goal once again coming from Ramirez.
The Hornets return to their home field on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. match with Menlo. At the game the team will be accepting donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Fans will be able to take shots on the pitch against goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence of the women’s soccer team at halftime for a minimum $1 donation. The Sacramento State’s women’s soccer team will also be accepting donations at its next home game at 3 p.m. on Friday against Cal State Northridge. Including monetary donations, fans are also encouraged to bring clothing, hygiene products, etc. All donations will go to the American Red Cross.
