Sac State misses playoffs with double overtime draw

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Junior forward No.20 Adan Martinez steals the ball from his opponent at the game against CSU Northridge at Hornet Field on Oct. 4.

Clifton Jones

Sacramento State men’s soccer found its postseason chances fade away as the last whistle of the double overtime match sounded Wednesday at Hornet Field.

Sac State battled to a 0-0 tie while being a man down against the No.12 ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Hornets’ sophomore midfielder Edwin Luna was issued a red card after he slide tackled another Gaucho midfielder with his cleats spikes up.

Hornets men’s soccer head coach Mike Linenberger said the refs made the correct call.

“When you show the spikes of your cleats coming up as you slide tackle an opponent, it is a red card offense all the time,” Linenberger said.

After Luna was escorted off the field, Sac State stymied the momentum swing that was in UCSB’s favor thanks to the play of senior goalkeeper Cesar Castillo. Castillo had four saves including two saves in the second half and both overtime periods.

“Obviously we wanted to win today’s game against UCSB,” Linenberger said. “I was proud of my team with a tie against a quality opponent.

In the second overtime period, Sac State nearly lost the match as a Gaucho forward found open field inside the 18 yard goalie box as he slid a shot past Castillo’s hands.

The goal was disallowed moments later as the refs called an offside.

UCSB held the advantage in shots16-14 and corner kicks 3-2. Both teams had four shots on goal.

With the loss Wednesday,there will be three seniors playing in their last game as a Hornet Saturday against UC Davis.

Senior midfielder Almog Strikowski said there is still plenty to play for against UC Davis.

“We would have liked to get the three points with a win today against UCSB,” Strikowski said. “But we have a chance to sweep UC Davis and that would be huge for us because they are our Causeway rival.”

Sac State will compete in the final regular season game against UC Davis 2 p.m. on Saturday at Hornet Field.