ARCATA – Opening a new facility and honoring four seniors were not enough to propel the Humboldt State men's soccer team to a win on Friday. The Jacks lost 4-0 to Sonoma State on the brand new College Creek Soccer Field.
Seniors Josh Suggs, Tim Haden, Brandon Perrier and Scott Mariani played their final home match for HSU which is now 3-9-3 overall, 3-8-2 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. Sonoma State's win improves its record to 9-5-1, 7-5-1 in conference action.
The Jacks came out playing well for the first 10 minutes of the game. They possessed the ball and had a couple of opportunities that were close but never produced a quality shot.
Then at the 24:39 mark Sonoma State's Trevor Hurst took a centering pass and shot it off the far post. The ball caromed into the goal and gave the Seawolves a 1-0 lead, which they took to halftime.
HSU was outshot 15-to-2 in the first 45 minutes, with Quintin Aguilar and Lyle Menk the only Jacks to get shots off. Humboldt State keeper Kyle Verle saw four shots on goal and made three saves.
In the second half the floodgates opened. The Seawolves took 11 shots. Five were on frame and three found the back of the net.
In the 61st minute Trevor Tennant picked up a loose ball in the box and shot it high to the far corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Eight minutes later Brandon Dela Cruz took a cross and from the top of the six shot it low to the far post for a 3-0 lead.
The last goal came in the 85th minute. Erick Delgado collected a loose ball at the far post and shot it low to the opposite side of the net for the final margin of 4-0.
SSU out shot the Jacks 26-to-4 for the game and 9-to-1 on shots on-goal. Verle made five saves in the loss.
The teams will play again on Sunday in Rohnert Park with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m.
