In the first men’s soccer match of the Copa de Causeway, the Sacramento State Hornets were shutout by the University of Portland Pilots, 2-0.

Alex Elliott, Pilots junior forward, scored in the 40th minute thanks to a cross from sophomore mid-fielder, Collen Warner. The second Pilot goal was scored by freshman forward Ryan Luke in the 73rd minute. Bryan Irwin, Pilots junior defensemen, slipped a pass through the Hornet defense in the 18-yard box to Luke who finished the goal.

Sac State dominated the early stages of the first half, firing four shots on target in the first ten minutes. Their best chance to score came in the tenth minute from a shot off the foot of senior mid-fielder Eli Millan. Pilot’s freshman goalkeeper, Austin Guerrero, made a diving save keeping the game tied. “I was just lucky to get my finger-tips to it,” said Guerrero after the game.

After the early barrage of Hornet shots on goal, the Pilots stepped up their defense and eventually took the game over. Hornets Head Coach Michael Linenberger said, “We didn’t finish, which came back to haunt us.”

Linenberger was happy with the way his team performed early, “We are very pleased with the first 20 minutes, by far the best we have played this year.”

Portland improves to 2-1-0 on the season while the Hornets drop to 0-3-0.

The Hornets will host the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Hornet Soccer Field in their final game of the Copa de Causeway.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected].