On Friday the Sacramento State men’s soccer team entered the first game of the LIU Soccer Classic trying to win its first road game of the season.

On Sunday the Hornets left Brooklyn, N.Y., flying high as tournament champions.

After playing Adelphi to a draw through two overtimes on Friday night the Hornets came back Sunday afternoon to defeat the host Long Island Blackbirds 2-1. Sac State put on an offensive barrage, out shooting their opponents 45-32 with a number of near misses.

Ramirez scores MVP awardSenior midfielder Marco Ramirez was named the tournament most valuable player after consecutive games with a goal, including the game-winner in the 82nd minute against the Blackbirds on Sunday. Overall, Ramirez has scored in three consecutive games as he scored the lone goal against Dayton on Sept. 9.

Ramirez wasn’t the only one receiving accolades for success throughout the tournament. Senior midfielder Ricky Rodriguez and juniors Pedro Lupercio, Utodi Madu and Ryan Rhoads were each all-tournament selections. Rhoads scored the initial goal against Long Island, while Rodriguez and Lupercio both were credited with assists. Madu helped to anchor the back line of the Hornets’ defense which allowed two just two goals in as many matches.

Linenberger notches 100th career victorySunday’s victory over Long Island marked Sac State coach Michael Linenberger’s 100th career victory, with all 100 of the wins coming as the head coach of the Hornets. In his 17th season,

Linenberger now has a career record of 100-172-26.

Hornets find Road to be friendlierThe Hornets won their first road game of the season on Sunday. Last season, the Hornets didn’t get their first road victory until the final game of the season. The Hornets beat San Jose State to finish with a road record of 1-8-0. This season after falling 3-0 to Saint Mary’s to start the season, the Hornets are 1-1-1 on the road with a date at Cal Poly (2-4) looming this Friday night.

McDougall adds to tallyWhen the Hornets beat the Dayton Flyers, it marked not only senior goalkeeper Matt McDougall’s ninth career clean sheet but he also set the career mark for career saves with 223. During the tournament, McDougall stopped 17 shots on goal, 12 coming in the double overtime match with Adelphi, and allowed just two goals over two days.

Best start in Division I historyAt 3-1-1, the Hornets are off to their best start since moving up to Division I in 1991. With only three seniors and nine freshmen, the Hornets are built for the future. However, the freshman class is highly regarded as the best in the program’s history and the team fields nine experienced juniors making the Hornets a team that can compete now.

Sac State beat Oregon State 2-1 on Labor Day, marking the Hornet’s first victory over a Pacific-10 foe since 1999. They also beat a good Dayton team 1-0. Wednesday, the Hornets take on the Menlo Oaks at Hornet Soccer Field. A victory or tie would equal the team record of five consecutive games without a loss.

Sacramento State media relations contributed to this report.