The CSUN men’s soccer team (7-7-2 record) suffered a dramatic 5-1 loss in their last home game of the season against the Sacramento State Hornets. The team dropped to the sixth spot in the Big West standings, with Sacramento moving up to the fifth spot with a 5-9-2 record.
The first half was a force as both teams were looking for open opportunities to score a goal, but it was a back-and-forth match until Matador midfielder Jorge Solorzano scored a penalty kick in the 30th minute to take the lead 1-0 after a handball was committed by Hornets defender Zach Castrence.
The energy on the field became dead silent after Matador midfielder Justin Sosa was issued a red card for committing a foul on Sacramento State that caused the team to play with a man down.
“I thought it was a tough red card, and that really changed the whole complexion of the game,” said CSUN men’s soccer head coach Terry Davila. “When you’re in a big game like this with points on the line, a decision like that can have real consequences.”
The second half was a domination by the Hornets, with forward player Zac Giles scoring a goal at the 50th minute to tie the game 1-1. The pressure on the Matadors quickly built up as Giles scored another goal to lead 2-1 at the 59th minute mark.
Hornet defender Nick Strangio lifted the Hornets to a 3-1 lead after scoring a goal during a corner kick at the 65th minute. The Matadors were struggling to find a way to come back and Giles secured two additional goals in the 80th and 86th minutes to give the Hornets the victory 5-1.
“Constant work that’s the key, especially in these close-out conference games, you know, keeping the work right and not getting down, especially going down a goal. Once we get that first goal, can we keep going?” Giles said. “Can we keep our foot on the gas and never let up? Because these days you never know what can happen. Soccer is a crazy game and any team can come back.”
The Matadors will visit UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Oct. 31, with kickoff at 7 p.m. The Matadors will wait to hear back to determine if the team clinches a spot in the Big West Conference.
