COMEBACK BID ANSWERED AS MEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO AIR FORCE 2-1

10/17/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Air Force scored goals in the 53rd and 71st minutes, erasing a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Sacramento State men's soccer team, 2-1, in conference action on Friday, Oct. 17 at Hornet Soccer Field.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 6-5-2 overall, 1-3-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, while the Falcons improve to 4-8-0 on the season, 2-2 in the MPSF.

Sacramento State provided the games first goal in the 19th minute, as redshirt freshman Adam Bettencourt scored his second goal of the season off of a free kick from senior Omar Martinez that was punched out by Falcon 'keeper Jim Gullo onto his awaiting right foot.

The Hornets took the 1-0 lead into halftime, after outshooting the Falcons 11-6 during the first 45 minutes of play.

The second half saw the amount of chances pick up for both team's, in a game that was quickly moving from one end of the field to another. In the 53rd minute, Air Force's Kevin Rosser centered a ball to Ben Chavez, who connected from 10 yards out on a shot that hit the top left corner of the net. tying the score at 1-1. Rosser then produced the eventual game-winner, as he blasted a shot of his own off the top left corner of the goal support from 18 yards out to give the Falcons a 2-1 conference victory.

For the match, the Hornets outshot the Falcons 24-17, with Sacramento State posting nine shots on frame to the Falcons seven. Sacramento State also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks for the match, but did not produce a goal off of one.

Sophomore Ernesto Carranza and junior Zach Tuss led the Hornets with five shots apiece, while Rosser led the Falcons with five shots of his own. Gullo produced eight saves for Air Force, while Hornet 'keeper Bryan Oliver posted four saves, and the team picked up a team save in the fifth minute as sophomore Alex DeTorres kept a goal off the board on a sliding stop of a shot off the foot Josh Rhynard.

The Hornets return to action this Sunday, Oct. 19 as they take on Denver at 2:30 p.m. from Hornet Soccer Field.