MEN'S SOCCER TAKES SIXTH SEED UCLA TO THE LIMIT IN NCAA SECOND ROUND BEFORE FALLING 2-1

11/22/2009

LOS ANGELES - The Sacramento State men's soccer team tied the score at 1-1 with 15 minutes to play in regulation, but fell to the sixth seeded UCLA Bruins, 2-1, in NCAA Second Round play on Sunday, Nov. 22.

In a physical match that saw the teams combine for 41 fouls and seven cautions, UCLA opened the scoring with a penalty kick conversion. Following a Hornet foul in the box in the 31st minute, Kyle Nakazawa converted the PK for his 12th goal of the season, giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead they would take into intermission.

In the first 45 minutes of play, UCLA outshot the Hornets 11-4, posting four shots on goal.

The second half saw Sacramento State come out of the locker room fired up, outshooting the Bruins 6-5, while putting four shots on goal to UCLA's one.

The Hornets tied the game at 1-1 in the 75th minute as freshman Max Alvarez found the equalizer, connecting on a blast from the near side to the far left corner of the goal from 25 yards out for his 10th goal of the season. With the goal, Alvarez tied Jamel Mitchell for second on the school's single-season goals list.

Sacramento State had a chance to take the lead in the 78th minute, but junior Fernando Cabadas had his shot saved by Brian Perk, and the score remained tied 1-1.

UCLA retook the lead in the 80th minute, as Chandler Hoffman scored on a cross, slipping between Hornet defenders for his fifth score of the season, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead.

The Hornets were able to get the ball inside of the UCLA box on several occasions during the final 10 minutes of the match, but were unable to get a shot off, falling by a final score of 2-1, and ending a 10 match unbeaten streak for Sacramento State.

Cabadas led the Hornets with five shots, including two on goal, while Alvarez took three shots, including two on goal. Senior Scott Crandall and sophomore Bryan Baker also added a shot apiece. Sophomore 'keeper Bryan Oliver collected three saves during his 90 minutes in goal.

Sacramento State finished the season with a 12-6-3 record, with the 12 victories setting a new school single-season record. The Hornets earned their first NCAA berth after winning both the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season and conference tournament titles. They defeated Loyola Marymount 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Baker in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.