Box Score ARCATA – After falling behind by a pair of scores in the opening five minutes of the second half, Humboldt State's surge was not enough as it fell short against Cal State Monterey Bay.
With perfect fall men's soccer weather, the Lumberjacks' end result was not with the Otters adding an extra score in the final seconds for a 3-1 victory.
Cal State Monterey Bay (7-3-2) claimed the important California Collegiate Athletic Association victory to maintain its top spot in the North Division at 5-3-2. The HSU defeat kept three key points in the standings from them to take the Sunday host to 3-6-1 in the league and 5-6-1 overall.
The Otters' Max Madrigal provided all the separation the visiting squad would need on the pitch. Madrigal took a turnover between a pair of Jacks defenders and booted the ball from around 20 yards into the left side of the goal at 24:30.
The Cal State Monterey Bay striker gave his team a two-goal cushion when he took a pass from the far left sideline and hit into the right side for a 2-0 margin with 50:14 off the clock.
The Jacks made their push a bit over 10 minutes later.
Chuck Pitts hit a long pass down the middle of the field where
Zach Hammond found the goal for the third time on the weekend when he push the ball through the arms of the Otters' goalie Evan Drake into the net. The Hammond tally made it a one-goal game with 22 minutes left to play.
On an unusual turn of events late in the game after a stoppage, Alberto Anguiano redirected a bounding ball across the front of the goal with 17 seconds for the 3-1 final.
Cal State Monterey Bay doubled HSU's shots in the first half, 10-5, before the foes both attempted seven shots in the final 45 minutes.
The Jacks will head to the road over the next two weeks starting next Friday in a 12:30 p.m. match at CSU San Bernardino.
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