Box Score SEASIDE – After an early host onslaught of goals, the Lumberjacks men's soccer late charge was not enough to dig out of their deep hole against the Otters.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay welcomed Humboldt State back to California Collegiate Athletic Association by pelting the back of the net with a trio of goals in the opening 19 minutes including the opening two in the first four minutes on the way to a 5-3 victory.
 
"Today was a tough game and hopefully a lesson learned. Games in this conference are hard enough without spotting the other team three early goals," pointed out Jacks coach Fred Jungemann.
 
HSU was able to make a dent in a 4-0 deficit with three scores in the final 19:10 in the team's first defeat in three contests.
 
Zach Hammond put the ball in the net for the first two tallies. Ryan Connor added the other goal with Riki Michael having the lone assist.
 
HSU outshot Cal State Monterey Bay, 14-9, but could not convert enough of the attempts.
 
Javier Torres saved four shots but allowed four goals in the first half in net. Ryan Ades logged the second 45 minutes without a save.
 
The Otters' (3-0/1-0 CCAA) Alberto Anguiano wasted no time getting his team on the scoreboard with a strike off a free kick only 2:34 into the match.  His teammate, Michael Brixey made it a quick 2-0 on a breakaway 1:16 later.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay made it a commanding margin, 3-0, when Chris Koski put a short crossing pass into the net at 19:22.   The home team tacked on a fourth score late in the opening half when George Plakorous put in a long cross with 37:50 elapsed.
 
The Jacks were the first to put a goal on the board in the second half.
 
Hammond punch in a penalty kick 7:57 into the latter 45 minutes to make it 4-1.
 
The Otters answered the Jacks score. Max Madrigal slide in a ball in front of the goal to put the difference back to four, 5-1, for Cal State Monterey Bay at 60:28.
 
HSU made a final push. Hammond took a cross in front of the goal from Michael for the visitors' second goal with 19:10 left in the contest. 
 
Just over five minutes later, Connor knocked home a rebound off a penalty kick at 76:12 to cut the margin to 5-3.
 
The charging Jacks could get no closer to fall by the same 5-3 final.
 
"The guys responded though and were able to salvage a little pride in the second half. The next challenge will be to regroup before Sunday," added Jungemann.
 
HSU will have Saturday off before taking the pitch in an 11:30 a.m. Sunday affair at San Francisco State.