Box Score: vs UC Irvine

The Sacramento State men’s soccer team lost a nail biter to the University of California, Irvine 3-2 on Sunday, bringing the Hornet’s record to 1-2-1.

In a game where the Hornets held 1-0 and 2-1 leads, the Hornets were unable to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. For most of the first 45 minutes, the Hornets were on the offensive attack.

“We just didn’t score goals. We had them on the ropes in the first half,” assistant coach Cesar Plasencia said.

Sac State outshot Irvine, taking 18 shots, nine of which were on goal. Irvine took 10 shots with only six on goal.

Hornet defender Alexis Maurtua scored the first goal in the fourth minute when he finished a header off a pass from sophomore midfielder Ricky Rodriguez.

The Hornets controlled the game tempo, but the tide changed in the seventh minute when sophomore Dardo Acuna answered for the Anteaters.

“Their first goal in the (seventh) minute changed the game,” Plasencia said. “We lost some steam.”

The scoring duel between Maurtua and Acuna continued when Maurtua scored his second goal in the 23rd minute, assisted again by Rodriguez.

“(Maurtua) was the one I was worried about. He was exceptional,” Irvine coach George Kuntz said.

Maurtua’s goals were his first and second of the season, tying him with Brent Hamilton for the team’s goal scoring lead.

Kyle Close scored the Anteaters second goal in the 34th minute to tie the score at 2-2.

At halftime, the Anteaters adjusted to the Hornets offensive barrage.

“The plan at half was to narrow the field, pressure the source, and cut the field which prevented them from creating scoring opportunities,” Kuntz said.

Both teams were engaged in a defensive battle for 27 minutes until Sac State was called for a handball in their own goal box in the 61st minute.

Acuna capitalized on the penalty kick, which turned out to be the game winner.

“We have participated in close games thus far. Friday we were in the same situation, guys need to battle like a street fight,” Kuntz said.

The Anteaters have shown to be resilient. On an impressive road-trip they defeated the University of San Francisco and Sac State.

Disappointed with the defeat the Hornets remain confident the team will continue to grow heading into conference play.

“(We have) a lot of new guys with a lot of time to gel,” Maurtua said.

Hornet goalkeeper Jeff Gibson played the entire 90 minutes.

So far the Hornets have scored seven goals in their first-four games, and are averaging 13.8 shots per game.

While the Hornets have out shot their opponents 55-48 on the year, the team has been out scored 11-7.

The Hornets will face Saint Mary’s on Friday at 4 p.m. at Geraventa Field. On Sunday the team will square-off against Dominican University at 4 p.m. at the Hornet Soccer Field in a doubleheader with the women’s soccer team.