Sacramento State men’s soccer team won a decisive game on the road against the CSUN Matadors today to go 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference.

Senior forward Chimdum Mez scored his second game-winning goal of the season in the 50th minute when he completed a header to the back post of the net.

Mez was assisted by freshman midfielder Elias Rieland, who crossed the ball twenty yards out from the right side. The goal was Mez’s sixth of the season and could not have come at a better time for a team that is looking to build momentum during conference play.

Playing on the road in the Big West Conference is never easy, and the Hornets played with the tenacity that is necessary to win.

“It was a great team win and everybody had a warrior mentality out here today,” Mez said. “[I am] very proud of the team, but now it’s time to focus up and get three points at Irvine on Saturday night.”

Playing like “warriors” was a term that was echoed by both players and coach Michael Linenberger.

“Getting three points at CSUN is no easy task,” Linenberger said. “We played well during moments of the game and we were also warriors when we needed grit and fight during the moments when CSUN was dominating.”

The Hornets were able to persevere through the Matador’s physicality. The Matadors committed 18 of the match’s 24 fouls. The Matadors also collected a red card in the 79th minute and three yellow cards for the game.

The Hornets were outshot by the Matadors, 18-11, but stayed in the game due to goalkeeper James Del Curto’s eight saves.

The Hornets face 11th ranked UC Irvine Saturday Oct. 11 on the road.