As the 29th minute commenced on a humid Friday night at Hornet Field, Saint Mary’s held a one goal lead over Sacramento State. Looking to change the momentum, Sac State head coach Michael Linenberger sent in the subs.
Linenberger looked to sophomore midfielder Hiroshi Yang, freshman forward Zach Looney and freshman forward Ronan Rattigan to change the complexity of the game.
Their presence was felt immediately. The Hornets started to pummel the Gaels’ back line.
“When subs go in, your job is not just to go in and play the same game, your job is to raise the level,” Linenberger said. “Whether that’s through work, speed or tackling, whatever you do well, you have to bring it to lift up the team.”
In the 32nd minute, Rattigan slid the ball up to sophomore forward Sean Battistessa, having the pass shoved away by a Gaels defender.
With the ball landing just in front of him, Rattigan struck a shot off his right foot to the bottom left corner of the goal, sliding just wide.
“We went down. We needed a goal,” Rattigan said. “Then the subs came in and lifted the team up, brought out the energy and we started playing way better.”
Closest chance of the game for the Hornets has come in the 33rd minute, off the right foot of Rattigan. Still 1-0 St. Mary’s. #hornets pic.twitter.com/dyR29sOWxM
— Tamer Bohatch (@TamerBohatch) September 19, 2025
Continuing the pressure in the 35th minute, Rattigan leapt into action off of a header and sent the ball to Battistessa, who sent a touch pass right in between junior forward Zac Giles and the Gaels goalie.
As Giles took a touch off the right foot, the ball raced towards the left side of the goal. Scrambling to control the ball, Giles charged in, looking to get a goal on the empty net, only for the ball to be cleared by a Saint Mary’s defender.
The Hornets subs are continuing the pressure another great chance here in. the 35th minute for Giles. #hornets pic.twitter.com/OCGiUfyZ7g
— Tamer Bohatch (@TamerBohatch) September 19, 2025
“Ronan up front gave us the ability to hold the ball and to run our players up their backline,” Linenberg said. “So I thought the guys that came in did a good job today.”
Sac State took the momentum into the second half, looking to even the score against Saint Mary’s.
The Hornets’ pivotal opportunity came in the 54th minute, off a corner-kick from Giles.
With the American, California and Sac State flag glistening in the breeze, the ball was struck, falling right into the temple of Battistessa. The ball flew towards the net, only to be stopped by the hand of the defender on the goal line.
The whistle blows, the players stagger around the goal while waiting for a decision. The referees go to check on the video assistant referee. Standing outside the booth, the referee raises his hands and makes a box, awarding a penalty kick to Sac State.
Yang stepped up to the box for the Hornets, set the ball down on the spot, lifted his head and collected his emotions. Taking three steps back, he waited for the referee’s whistle. As the whistle sounded off, Yang took two strides toward the goal, leveling a strike to the top right corner of the net and equalizing the game.
“In my head, I just told myself to pick a side and smash it,” Yang said. ”The goalie won’t get it and that’s what I did.”
An absolute screamer into the top right corner of the penalty results in a goal from Hiroshi Yang. 1-1 now. #hornets pic.twitter.com/QFwSb3sNEk
— Tamer Bohatch (@TamerBohatch) September 20, 2025
The Hornets used the goal as a reset, playing lockdown defense and continuing the attack.
In the 69th minute, Looney received a pass up the left side of the box. Dribbling inside off his right foot, Looney skipped around the Gaels defender, delivering a shot that was blocked as it headed to the top right corner.
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Just two minutes later, Rattigan gained control of the ball just past the center line, sending a right foot rocket that was blocked in a desperate save by the Gaels keeper.
“I got past my man and I saw my opportunity. I decided to be selfish, and it was a good shot that ultimately did not go in,” Rattigan said. “I was just trying to apply pressure on their defense, to get one back and to win the game.”
Close chance from Rattigan in the 70th minute. Sac State still applying the pressure. #hornets pic.twitter.com/K8V8KID2rv
— Tamer Bohatch (@TamerBohatch) September 20, 2025
The remaining 20 minutes of gametime would grant more opportunities for the Hornets to gain the upper hand. But Sac State ultimately failed to score another goal, while junior goalkeeper Lucas Bost would continue to stand tall as the Hornets were caught in the Saint Mary’s half
Saint Mary’s offense had their best chance to regain the lead in the 83rd minute, with Sac State forwards caught down the field. The Gaels defender sent a looping pass over the head of junior defender Nick Strangio. The ball fell at the feet of the Gaels forward, who charged in and sent a blistering shot into the sliding feet of Bost.
Fantastic save from Bost to keep the game tied in the 83rd minute. Still 1-1. #hornets pic.twitter.com/JE3ZnPhhiK
— Tamer Bohatch (@TamerBohatch) September 20, 2025
With this, the last true scoring chance of the game came and went, leading to a draw by the final score of 1-1.
“The work, commitment, fight and energy was there,” Linenberger said. “But now we have to be able to do all those things, while having a better first touch, better passing and better decision making.”
The Hornets now look forward to the start of Big Sky Conference play as they host CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m.
