The Sacramento State men’s soccer team dribbled its way past midseason, posting a 2-9-1 record, which doesn’t represent the team as well as everyone would hope. Coach Michael Linenberger said the Hornets have dealt with a lack of team chemistry since new players have been added to the roster this season. “(We have) 14 new players that have never played Division I soccer before,” Linenberger said. Eight Hornets transferred from other universities or junior colleges. “This is by far the largest (set of new players on the team).” The Hornets had a rocky start, losing six consecutive games, and didn’t net a victory until game 10 against Menlo in a non-conference match on Sept. 30. Sac State won 4-1. Linenberger said the team was playing inconsistently early in the season, only doing well “in spurts,” but have pulled together, gaining more team chemistry in the last three to four weeks.

The Hornets were giving up too many points without netting enough themselves.

“(They) have been improving and have come a long way,” Linenberger said.

Co-captain Eli Millan agreed with Linenberger that the team improved as the season went on.

“If the season had started now it would be a different record,” Millan said.

Linenberger said the defense has come around, but the Hornets need to continue working on scoring goals. He also said the athletes aren’t getting enough shots on the goal to make it count.

“We need to get more chances,” Linenberger said.

The Hornets posted 11 goals but have let more than twice that amount pass their keeper with 23 goals scored against them.

Freshman Ernesto Carranza leads the Hornets with 13 shots, three goals and two assists. Freshman Fernando Cabadas has made 25 shots, netting two goals, and made two assists.

Carranza doesn’t look at his individual stats as an important factor.

“It’s good, but the individual stats come after the team,” he said.

Sac State was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Preseason Coaches Poll with 12 points. The New Mexico Lobos, the only MPSF team to be ranked in the Top 25 as No. 24, was picked to win. The Denver Pioneers were placed second while the San Jose Spartans were picked third, followed by the UNLV Rebels for fifth, and the Air Force Falcons in the final spot.

So far, the preseason predictions nailed two teams, as No. 24 New Mexico sits on top with 10 points, San Jose State tallied six points, Denver has four points, and Air force, Sac State and UNLV have three.

Each team is awarded three points for a victory, one point for a tie and nothing for a loss.

The Hornets have a 1-2-0 MPSF record beating the Rebels (1-3) 1-0 in overtime, but fell to the Spartans (2-1) 2-1 and the Lobos (3-1) 1-0.

Sac State has proven it can win at home, posting a 2-5 record, but have yet to win a game on the road.

The Hornets will travel to Denver to play the Pioneers (1-1-1) at 4 p.m. on Friday and to the United States Air Force Academy to play the Falcons at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Linenberger said both Denver and the Air Force are tough teams. The Pioneers have a better team record, but the Hornets have beat them in Denver before. He said it will be difficult with the weather and altitude change.

He said the Hornets have yet to win against the Falcons at an away game and would love for this game to be their chance.

“(We) hope to (win) to get the monkey off our backs,” Linenberger said.

Millan said since the team has come around, the Hornets have a better chance at beating the Lobos and Spartans next time.

“I definitely feel we have a much better chance beating them,” he said.

Linenberger said the team’s goal has been to finish in the top half of the conference midway through the season with a chance to win and advance to the NCAA first round.

The Hornets would have to win the rest of their games with a change to top the conference, which Lin said would be “a hell of a challenge.”

Whichever team wins the MPSF will advance to the first round of the NCAA. The other teams have a chance to make it, but Lin said New Mexico and Denver are the two that might have an outside shot without a conference title.

The Hornets will host the Pioneers at noon on Nov. 2 at Hornet Field.

Karyn Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]