MEN'S SOCCER MOVES TO 2-0 IN CONFERENCE PLAY FOLLOWING 2-1 TRIUMPH OVER DENVER

10/18/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State men's soccer team overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Denver Pioneers by a score of 2-1 in a MPSF matchup on Sunday, October 18 at Hornet Soccer Field.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 6-5-1, 2-0-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, while the Pioneers fall to 3-7-2, 0-2-0 in the MPSF.

The Hornets dug themselves an early hole in the 19th minute, as in an attempt to clear a cross, a Hornet defender ended up putting a ball into his own net, giving Denver a 1-0 lead.

Sacramento State came back in the 31st minute to tie the game at one apiece, as after being awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal, junior Fernando Cabadas sent a cross in towards the far post. Senior David von Stockhausen then made a diving header attempt that beat Denver 'keeper Joe Willis for his first goal of the season.

The match changed in the favor of the Hornets in the 35th minute, as Denver's Blake Shannon was sent off after receiving a pair of card just :16 seconds apart, giving the Hornets a man up advantage for the remainder of the match.

The score, however remained tied entering intermission, with the Hornets holding a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal.

The second half saw the Hornets pick up their offensive intensity early, putting four shots on goal in the first 21 minutes following halftime. The fifth shot on goal was the charm, however, in the 67th minute, as junior Ernesto Carranza dribbled his way through a maze of Pioneer defenders before unleashing a left footed shot into the back of the net for his third goal of the season, giving the Hornets a 2-1 lead.

Denver continued to press until the match's final moments, as Collin Audley had his shot saved by Bryan Oliver in the 90th minute with just :13 seconds left. Following an offside on the insuing dropkick by Oliver, Denver had a final chance with a few seconds on the clock, but were turned away.

For the match, the Hornets outshot the Pioneers 20-11, which included an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Carranza led the way for the Hornets with six shots, including four that were on frame, while Cabadas posted four shots. For von Stockhausen, his 31st minute goal was the second of his career, with both coming against Denver. Oliver posted four saves in his 90 minutes in goal for Sacramento State,

Denver was led by a group of four players who posted two shots apiece. Willis, the Pioneers goalkeeper, posted nine saves on the match.

Sacramento State returns to action on Friday, October 23rd as they travel to Seattle to take on the Seattle Redhawks. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.