Box Score ARCATA – Luck was not on the Lumberjacks' side Sunday afternoon as Humboldt State suffered a 5-1 loss to Cal State Los Angeles. After an own goal, a questionable penalty kick and a miss-clear, the Lumberjacks found themselves in a hole they couldn't dig out of.

Humboldt State drops 2-9 overall, 2-8 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action, while Cal State L.A. improves to 7-1-4 overall, 5-1-4 in conference play, with the victory. The Lumberjacks will be on the road the next two weekends, first hitting Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay, before ending their season at home Oct. 28 and 30.

"At times today, it felt as if we were playing against 12 players," said head coach C.J. Johnson. "That was hard for our young team. We struggled to keep our composure and focus on the task of playing our game."

Giving up an own goal in the first six minutes didn't help either for the Jacks. After a ball bounced around in the 18-yard box, an HSU defender tried to clear the ball, but ended up putting it in the back of the net behind Kyle Verle.

The Lumberjacks didn't lose hope and just a minute and thirty seconds later scored an equalizer. Eric Baumgardner sent a ball into the box, connecting with Braxton Griffin's head to tie the game at 1-1.

Cal State L.A. was awarded a questionable penalty kick in the 18th minute, which Jason Swope put behind an out-stretched Verle. Verle got a paw on the ball, but it wasn't enough to keep it from rolling into the net.

"After giving up an early first goal, I thought we responded well with getting the equalizer," said Johnson. "It's hard to rebound when you give up own goals and your opponent is awarded a penalty kick that the assistant referee rightfully was trying to call off—which the center ref overturned."

The debated penalty kick was over the spot the foul occurred. The center referee awarded the penalty kick to CSULA because he thought the Humboldt State defender committed a foul inside the penalty box, though it appeared to be just outside the box to the assistant referee and other onlookers.

Andy Lopez added to the scoreboard in the 22nd minute after Humboldt State could not get a good defensive clear, letting the ball bounce around in the box. Lopez headed the ball into the net to put the Golden Eagles up 3-1 at halftime.

Humboldt State could not get back to its game of possession in the second half and conceded two more goals to Cal State L.A. Timo Schwar and Rosario Bras connected on a quick give-and-go wall pass, ending with Schwar slipping the ball past Verle. Bras would then collect a goal of his own in the 89th minute off a pass from Jordan Payne.

"I need to give credit where credit is due," said Johnson. "CSULA is a very good team. They're last two goals were quality goals. They didn't allow us to play possession and I don't think our offense showed well today."

The Jacks struggled to connect simple passes to retain possession, dumping the ball too much in trying to play direct. The direct balls didn't show off the creativity Johnson knows his players are capable of. Johnson was very pleased with freshmen Sam Wahl and Griffin, however, and is encouraged with how much improvement the two have shown.

"Braxton's work rate and progress has earned him more playing time," said Johnson. "He's become a great player in this conference which is very encouraging to see. I think he'll be dangerous for other teams to handle in the future."

Hopefully for the Jacks that future will prove to be on their first of two last road trips on the season against quality teams.

"All-in-all, I'm still very pleased with the progress of this team," said Johnson. "We've had some very good games recently and I think it's the best soccer we've played all season. Hopefully our boys will respond well and learn from this game. We need to put it behind us as we play two tough opponents on the road.

"If we can regain our composure and find our game," Johnson adds, "I like our chances heading into the weekend."