BLAKE NUNES' GOAL WITH 51 SECONDS LEFT LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO 1-1 TIE AGAINST DENVER
10/19/2007
DENVER - Junior Blake Nunes found the back of the net off of a cross from freshman Fernando Cabadas in the 90th minute to give the Hornets a 1-1 tie with host Denver in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action on Friday, Oct. 19 at Pioneer Field.
With the tie, the Hornets move to 2-9-2 and 1-2-1 in the MPSF, while the Pioneers move to 5-4-2, 1-1-2 in MPSF play.
After a scoreless first half that saw the Pioneers post 10 shots to the Hornets one, Denver lit up the scoreboard first, as one second into the 51st minute Kyle Christensen scored off of a feed from Colby Pierce to give Denver a 1-0 advantage.
The game would change in the 86th minute as Pioneer starting 'keeper Matt Bredehoft collided with a Hornet player on a 50/50 ball, and had to come out of the game. Sacramento State would take advantage, as in the 90th minute with 51 seconds on the clock, Cabadas worked his late minute magic for the second time this season, this time finding Blake Nunes on a picture perfect cross that trickled over the outstretched arms of the Pioneers' backup 'keeper Teale Stone and onto an awaiting right foot for the game tying goal.
Sacramento State was able to survive both overtime periods without surrendering a goal, as the Hornets played the last 11:59 of the match a man down after junior Brady Nunes picked up his second yellow card of the contest in the ninth minute of the extra session. The Pioneers outshot the Hornets 6-2 after regulation, and held a 21-6 shot advantage for the contest. Sophomore 'keeper Ryan Kenny posted three post-regulation saves, and totalled eight for the match.
Kyle Christensen led the Pioneers with four shots, all on goal, while his brother Kellan, Denver's leading scorer on the season, was held to shots, none on goal. Cabadas posted two shots for the Hornets, while Chris Cosby, Eli Millan, Blake Nunes and Josh Zimbrich added a shot apiece.
Sacramento State continues its Colorado road swing with a MPSF match against Air Force on Sunday, Oct. 21 at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Pacific time.
