Following the first pair of matches held at College Creek Field in almost two years, Humboldt State prepares to test its men's soccer mettle against two of the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division best.
HSU will travel to the south part of the state in a Friday match at UC San Diego, before Sunday facing Cal Poly Pomona
Jacks post shutout in first home match
For the first time in 689 days, Humboldt State men's soccer hosted an opponent and did not disappoint by shutting out Cal State East Bay, 2-0, last Friday afternoon.
Prior to last Friday, the Jacks made their last appearance at College Creek Field on October 30, 2011. Ironically, the match against Cal State Stanislaus was also a shutout, 1-0, in favor of HSU.
Against Cal State East Bay only 3:18 into the contest, the Jacks' Chuck Pitts found the rebound off the Pioneers' keeper and put it into the back of the net to set the tone of the contest for the early 1-0 lead.
The Pitts goal stood until midway through the latter half.
At 62:58, HSU's leading-scorer Zach Hammond buried a pass from Braxton Griffin and the home defense did the rest.
Weekend ends in tough fashion
Following an exciting weekend opener, the home magic could not hold true for the entire pair of CCAA matches.
After working for two second half scores to even the match, Humboldt State saw Jose Ramirez slide the game-winner score into the net to give Cal State Stanislaus the Sunday 3-2 overtime win.
It was the tale of two halves for Lumberjacks men's soccer.
Falling down by a pair of goals in the first 31 minutes, HSU battled back in the second half with a pair of scores coming from Jordan Zogg and Mitch Butt to eventually send the affair into extra time.
The Jacks' Riki Michael's header went wide right and Sam Wahl fired a wide shot in the first six minutes but to no avail. The Warriors' Ramirez converted on his second extra period boot in what turned into a breakaway and curled the shot from right to left around the home keeper Javier Torres for the game-winner at 98:26.
HSU spreading scoring around
Unlike many teams in the league, HSU has been able to spread around its scoring to more than a single top point producer.
Zach Hammond paces the Jacks with five balls put into the net but teammates Chuck Pitts, Ryan Connor and Dan Mariani have all added a pair of scores apiece.
Coach Jungemann Comments:
On last weekend's performance:
"This past weekend was an up and down one for us. Friday was an emotional day for the team and they saved their best performance of the season for our home opener. Sunday ended up being a frustrating day, as several lapses in concentration ended up costing us the victory. Every game in the CCAA presents a difficult challenge. We can't afford to lose points that are within our grasp, if we hope to reach our season goals."
On this weekend's matchups:
"This coming weekend presents two more difficult challenges in UCSD and Cal Poly Pomona. Both teams have started the season well, with good results against tough opponents. Going into it, I would expect this to be the most difficult test we have faced this season."
Weekend's CCAA away matches
vs. UC San Diego (Fri at 4:30 p.m.):
Series History: UCSD leads 3-0-4
Last meeting: UCSD win 3-2 on Oct. 21, 2011 at La Jolla
Last HSU win: none, but tied UCSD, 1-1, in 2010 match
Tritons 2012 record: 9-4-4
CCAA Preseason Poll: 4th in South
*Coached by 6th-year coach Jon Pascale (44-33-14)
Tritons shut out pair last weekend
*It was a good weekend for UC San Diego. The Tritons recorded a pair of 1-0 road shutouts over Chico State and CSU San Bernardino.
*Tritons have all allowed only three goals in six matches ... they have netted eight scores, but five came in the opening two matches of the year.
*Opponents have been able to outshoot UCSD by a 55-53 margin.
*Alessandro Canale is the lone multi-goal scorer thus far with two.
*Goalie Josh Cohen holds a 0.48 goals against average with 17 saves over 564 minutes.
vs. Cal Poly Pomona (Sun. at 11:30 a.m.):
Series History: Cal Poly Pomona leads 6-3
Last meeting: CPP 5-1 win on Sept. 25, 2011 in Pomona
Broncos 2012 record: 3-11-3
CCAA Preseason Poll: 6th in South
*Coached by 6th-year coach Jon Pascale (44-33-14)
Broncos involved in two shutouts
*Cal Poly Pomona was involved in two shutouts in last weekend's CCAA action. The Broncos started with a 1-0 blanking of CSU San Bernardino, before suffering the same fate, 1-0 OT, in a defeat to #14 Chico State.
*CPP has shut out two foes and been shut out two times itself.
*Scored only three goals in the last four affairs after seven in the opening two bouts
*Suffered both losses to ranked opponents in Cal State Los Angeles and Chico State
*Luis Najera is the only player with more than one goal with four goals and two assists.
*Brandon Cortez has assisted on three scores
*Goalie Andrew Todd holds an 0.82 goals against average with 18 saves over 552 minutes.
