After winning their first game of the season against Menlo College last week, the Sacramento State Hornets hoped it would signal a turnaround but instead lost 2-1 Sunday at Spartan Stadium to the San Jose State Spartans.

The loss drops the Hornets’ record to 1-8-1 on the season. This game was the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener for the Hornets and the team is 0-1 in conference play.

The Hornets were again outshot by their opponents, 17-11 for the game and 11-4 in the second half alone.

The defense was strong for both teams until Spartan midfielder Ed Murillo-Jimenez came off the bench and scored on a deep shot in the upper-right corner of the net in the 37th minute for the only goal of the half.

Hornet defender Adam Owens received a pass early in the second half from freshman midfielder Fernando Cabadas and launched a shot off Spartan keeper Lewis Sweeney for his first goal of the season.

San Jose struck back later on in the half as fielder Efrain Burgos Jr. was awarded a free kick and got the score that would be the difference in the game.

The Hornets were outshot in this game but still had 10 different players taking shots with Cabadas leading the way with two. Sophomore keeper Ryan Kenny posted six saves for the Hornets.

The Hornets dropped their conference opener and are still winless on the road this season but will play again this weekend when they host University of Nevada Las Vegas in a Mountain Conference battle. The game will serve as doubleheader with women’s soccer.

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