Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – The anticipation and excitement level had reached a peak for Humboldt State University's first men's soccer match in two years leading up to this afternoon's opening match.
 
The Lumberjacks did not disappoint.
 
It took an extra 3:06, but HSU's senior midfielder Dan Mariani (Walnut Creek, Calif.) tapped in a header from Riki Michael (San Diego, Calif.) to push past host Academy of Art University, 2-1 in overtime, on Thursday afternoon.
 
"It is great to get a win in the first game and get a win under our belts," said HSU coach Fred Jungemann. "It's been a long year and there was a lot of anticipation and nerves. I tried to get a handle on it (the players' nerves) but it is going to take some games to make that happen."
 
In fact, it was 23 months since the Jacks men's soccer program donned the game uniforms. HSU played its first match on the pitch since hosting Cal State Stanislaus on Oct. 30, 2011 after the 2012 campaign was canceled before it started.
 
Following a scoreless opening 30 minutes, senior co-captain Zach Hammond (Redmond, Wash.) took a quick pass from Chuck Pitts (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) to give the visiting Jacks the season's first score.
 
HSU (1-0) held onto its 1-0 advantage into the intermission.
 
The Urban Knights were able to tie the affair, 1-1, just under seven minutes into the second half. Frederik Nagel handled a cross that deflected off HSU goalie Javier Torres (Long Beach, Calif.) and put it into the net.
 
The scored remained deadlocked, 1-1, through regulation to take the first Jacks' soccer action in almost two calendar years fittingly into extra time.
 
Only three minutes into the overtime period, newcomer Connor Wilkinson (Burlington, Ontario) served a crossing pass over to Michael, who headed the ball to Mariani for the game-winning goal.
 
"It (the game-winner) was off a set piece where Connor served the cross," explained Jungemann. "The guys fought and worked hard with great spirit and never gave up with a good result in the end.  I am happy the guys were able to win and we have to go on from there."
 
The Jacks outshot their foes, 15-12, including taking the only two shots in overtime.
 
In his first HSU net action, Torres saved four shots in goal over 93:06.
 
The victory was the program's first since shutting out Dominican, 1-0, on Oct. 25, 2011.
 
The Jacks will have the weekend to relish the season-opening victory before heading back to the Bay Area to face Dominican University in San Rafael on Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, at 3 p.m.