The Sacramento State men’s soccer team defeated Seattle University 2-0 Friday at Hornet Soccer Field.

The win ended a three-game scoreless streak dating back to an Oct. 3 home match against San Jose State University that went into double overtime, ending in a 0-0 tie.

With the win over the Redhawks, the Hornets earn their first conference win of the season, improving their record to 6-3-3 overall and 1-1-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. For Seattle, its record now stands at 3-6-3 overall and 1-2-1 in the MPSF.

Sac State peppered the Redhawk goal with 17 shots, 25 total shots for the game, but were unable capitalize on early Seattle mistakes.

The Hornets kept the pressure on in the second half as they found the back of the net off a rare goal keeper assist 10 minutes in. Sac State keeper Cesar Castillo found streaking forward Chris Bettencourt 30 yards in front of the Seattle goal.

Bettencourt then shot the ball just as the Redhawk keeper, Jake Feener, deflected the ball to only have it bounce in for a score.

Castillo said good fortune was on his side as he tried delivering the ball in the hands of his teammates.

“For a goalie, an assist is always on the check list. I usually try to find our point striker every time I kick the ball,” Castillo said. “So when I hit it I was looking for Chris but I thought that a defender would head it away. But luckily it bounced and he had a great finish.”

With 20 minutes left in the game, Bettencourt found his way on to the scoreboard for his second goal of the game and his fifth goal of the season from an assist by midfielder Almog Strikowski.

Bettencourt said his teammates were actively moving the ball around the field, which helped him get in position to score.

“We were buzzing. We were passing and moving,” Bettencourt said. “Ernie Carranza passed it to Almog Strikowski and then I saw the opportunity to score. I boxed out their left back, slipped past, got the ball with my left foot and shot it with my right.”

Head coach Michael Linenberger said he believes the Hornets’ next opponent will bring the team a real challenge.

“It is going to be a tough one. Bakersfield is very good and they are even better at home,” Linenberger said. “We need to take our performance today and be even better on Sunday and quicker.

Sac State will head to CSU, Bakersfield for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday.

Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]