Box Score ARCATA – Humboldt State men's soccer team scored a quick goal in the first half but was unable to hold onto the lead in a 4-2 defeat Monday against Concordia (Ore.) at College Creek Field.

The Lumberjacks start their season 0-1 overall as they hit the road to start California Collegiate Athletic Association play on Friday, Sept. 9, at Cal State Stanislaus. The NAIA's No. 21-ranked Cavaliers improve to 4-0 on their season.

"We certainly aren't pleased with the result, but we have to remember we're a young team with a lot of new faces," said head coach C.J. Johnson. "We have to be patient and understand we're building for the future and continuing to improve."

Ray Lind put the Jacks on the board in the fourth minute by heading in a cross from Zack Hammond. It was Lind's first start as the target forward and Johnson was pleased with his presence in the air.

"It was nice to see us physically winning the air game early on," said Johnson. "It was a fantastic first goal."

The Cavs responded in the 16th minute after Septi Danciu blocked an attempted defensive clear inside the penalty box, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Kyle Verle to tie the game at 1-1.

There were many chances for Humboldt State to take the lead again in the first half, which could have produced a different final result, but the Jacks could not get past Concordia's goalkeeper Humberto Soriano.

The Cavaliers came out strong in the second half, firing off a shot in the first minute, but Verle deflected it wide. Nathaniel Payne committed a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick in the 49th minute, but once again Verle was there to make a big save to prevent Danciu's shot.

Both keepers had to make key saves to keep their teams in the game, including Soriano's save off a great shot on goal from Dan Mariani in the 59th minute.

Concordia put the pressure back on Humboldt State's defense and capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 63rd minute when an open Danciu scored his second goal of the game. Just three minutes later Quinn Sinser gave the Cavaliers an insurance goal, heading the ball past Verle off a long throw in.

"I can't fault Verle on the goals since the breakdowns happened up the field," said Johnson. "He made some key saves to keep us in the game, but when set plays and crosses are won by the other team, that's a problem."

Humboldt State's Mitch Butt dropped the lead to one in the 85th minute by placing the ball in the back of the net, off a cross from Hammond, for his first collegiate goal. Just seconds after the restart, Danciu completed his hat trick to bring back the two goal lead, making the score 4-2 in favor of the Cavs.

"We lost our composure defensively all over in the last 25 minutes," said Johnson. "We weren't pressuring the ball and we were allowing them to connect passes. We struggled tactically in the back."

The Jacks will have to rebound from the loss as they start conference play and will face more tough opponents. Johnson and his team are disappointed in the loss, but they are confident they are just going to keep improving.