With a 1-1 tie against the San Francisco Dons (1-1-1), Sacramento State’s men?s soccer team continue to rewrite their history – chapter by chapter, game by game.

Off to their best record to date (2-0-1), the Hornets narrowly escaped the jaws of defeat when Hjalti Kristansson dipped a 30-yard shot just under the crossbar during the latter stages of the game to even the score.

“The goal he hit was nothing short of brilliant,” head coach Mike Linenberger said of his sophomore defender. “He’s proven to be a clutch player so far.”

With Kristansson’s goal the Hornets forced an overtime session, their second overtime thriller in three games. Their last overtime contest came against second-ranked Santa Clara, a game that was highlighted by yet another Kristansson blast.

Although they failed to keep their two game winning streak alive, the Hornets were lucky to avoid their first loss of the season.

“We were disappointed. The first three quarters of the game we felt both teams were going through the motions,” Linenberger said. “There was a lack of energy and motion.”

It was the crafty play of the Dons three-prong attack that provided the game?s first excitement, as they continuously penetrated the Hornet?s penalty box. The Dons seized the games first lead when a broken play yielded a ricochet shot that stunned Leo Marin, the Hornets net-minder.

“We felt they didn’t deserve that goal. They didn’t earn it,” said Linenberger.

“They play out of a system where they play with three forwards. It was hard to build out of the back and it hurt us,” Linenberger said.

With just minutes left in the half the Hornets mounted their first scoring chance when Matt Scammacca crossed the ball to freshman midfielder Sam Sneed. Sneed broke into space in the Dons penalty box but couldn’t release a shot in time. Two Don defenders converged on him, stymieing the attack.

Sensing disappointment in his teams inability to score in the first half, Linenberger reassured his team that the game wasn?t over yet.

“We told them the game is wide open,” he said. “The team that steps up in the second gets the best results.”

And the Hornets’ bench players did just that.

Led by the drive and hustle of substitutes Nick Whittaker and David Fraser, the Hornets went on the offensive, hounding the Dons defense and goalkeeper Scott Spaulding. Whittaker, who made his return to the Hornet line-up, began the flurry with his very first touch.

Whittaker, a transfer from Ohlone Junior College, drove a cross into box and in Fraser’s direction. Fully extended, Fraser took the ball out of the air redirecting the ball with his head. His attempt on goal went just over the crossbar.

Moments later senior striker Sean Luigs emerged out of a broken play with the ball. Streaking down the line, Luigs appeared prime for a one-on-one, but a desperate lunge by the last defender ended the threat.

On the very next possession, Kristansson knotted the score at one when he was given just enough room to let a shot fly. His blast came as no surprise to his coach who realized his team had won back the games momentum.

“We dominated the second half and the overtime. The last 40 minutes we simply dominated,” Linenberger said.

The Hornets will hit the road this weekend when they travel north to Oregon to compete in the Oregon Invitational. They are scheduled to play Oregon State on Saturday, followed by a contest with Illinois-Chicago on Sunday.