ARCATA, Calif. - The intensity in Thursday afternoon's home match sparked the Humboldt State men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay at College Creek Field.

HSU and Monterey Bay were tied for a majority of the game before Isaiah Dairo planted a header into center net following a full flip over the Otters' keeper.

"Today was another strong performance to follow up from last weekend's results," said HSU Head Coach Fred Jungemann. "Monterey Bay is a very good team and put us under a lot of pressure today. Though, we responded very well and created a lot of chances of our own."

The Jacks brought the forward momentum early and carried it throughout the first half. Dairo led the front line producing four shot attempts before the break including a shot at 11:21 that hit the post and rebounded to Dalton Rice in front of the net. Rice placed a header into the top of the net, and the Jacks took the lead early 1-0. Monterey Bay matched HSU's goal 20 minutes later on a shot from the outside left corner of the box on a long ball over keeper Chris Cherms. The Jacks put up eight shots to the Otters' nine in the first half.

HSU came into the second half with a little less fire in the offensive end and chose to put support in the back. With the score 1-1, HSU put a defensive swing on its game and faced nine more shots from the Otters. Dairo continued to keep some pressure in the front and put the game-winning goal on the board with less than four minutes left in the game. For his fourth goal this season, Dairo met a through ball from Max Steinmetz outside the center box as Monterey Bay's keeper charged the ball. Dairo jumped to clear a header over the keeper and was forced into a 180-degree flip that landed Dairo on his back and the ball in the net. The game ended 2-1 for the Jacks.

"Our defense deserves a great deal of credit today, holding a strong attacking Monterey team to just one goal," added Jungemann. "It was awesome to see our guys play so hard today for our seniors. I'm happy for all of the seniors, but particularly glad for Chris Cherms with a strong performance and result in goal."

Dairo led his team with eight shot attempts in the game. Cherms played his first game of the season and made 10 saves off of the Otters' 13 shots on goal and totaled a .909 save percentage.

The Green and Gold host their final game with Senior Day celebrations Saturday against Cal State East Bay. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.