On the ice at Skatetown in Roseville, the Sacramento State Hornets hockey team fell to the Fresno State Bulldogs, 4-5 on Friday, in the first game of the season for both squads.

The Hornets compete in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and are under the direction of new coach Tom Bowen.

The first period of the game began with both teams establishing their defenses and physicality. Members of both teams were being slammed into the walls constantly.

During the last ten minutes of the period, the Bulldogs went on the offense and launched a series of shots on the Hornet goalie, Golkap Gurer. Bulldog defenseman Magnus Toftgard scored the first goal. With four minutes left Hornet forward Chase Turner scored the first goal for the Hornets by hitting a slap shot past Bulldog goalie Joe Ricupero. Two minutes later the Hornets scored again with forward Ryan Siler getting the goal.

The Hornets committed five penalties and the Bulldogs also had five in the second period. With five minutes left in the period, the score was 2-1 Hornets and it looked like it was going to remain that way when Bulldog forward Michael Gandy hit a slap shot that had both teams tied up, 2-2.

The third period began with Hornet forward Mahan Malachi scoring in the first two minutes to give the Hornets the lead, 3-2. The Bulldogs then went on to dominate the rest of the period, scoring three goals. Bulldog forwards Derek Miller, Nikolai Morse and Phillip Matson all scored to make the score 5-3, Bulldogs. The Hornets tried to rally with Silver, scoring another goal for the Hornets with less than 10 minutes left to make it 5-4, but the Bulldog defense kept the Hornets from making it to overtime.

Hornet coach Bowen declined to comment extensively about the game after it was over.

“It was our first game and we played hard but we missed two many shots and we weren’t always playing aggressive,” Turner said.

Many Sac State students come out to support the team.

“No doubt it was great that people come out to support us, it sucks we got the loss but next game we going to come out and play a lot better,” Turner said.

The Hornets will be at home in Roseville again tomorrow as they host College of the Canyons from Valencia, California.

The State Hornet Staff can be reached at [email protected]