WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Cal Poly Humboldt struck first on Saturday evening but couldn't hold off a strong second-half surge from Hawaii Pacific, falling 3-1 at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

With the result, the Lumberjacks move to 1-2-1 overall, while the Sharks improve to 2-0-1 on the year.

First-Half Lead for the Jacks

The Jacks wasted no time getting on the board. In the 10th minute, Nathan Murff netted his first goal of the season, giving Humboldt an early 1-0 advantage. Humboldt's defense and goalkeeper Edwin Monterrosa kept the Sharks at bay through the first 45 minutes, with Monterrosa collecting six saves in the opening half.

Second-Half Rally by the Sharks

Hawaii Pacific responded after halftime, scoring three times in a 17-minute span. Jackson Palladino equalized in the 66th minute off a setup from Dylan Barreira. Just two minutes later, Kelly Takara put the hosts in front with an assist from Alexander Arguijo. Takara added his second of the night in the 83rd minute to seal the 3-1 victory for the Sharks.

By the Numbers

• Shots: HPU 22 (10 on target), HUM 9 (4 on target)

• Corners: HPU 8, HUM 4

• Saves: Monterrosa (HUM) 7, HPU Goalkeepers 3

Murff paced the Jacks with two shots, including the opening goal, while Luke Gomes added three shots and John Warnell and Paris Ruiz each recorded one shot on goal. Monterrosa finished with seven saves between the posts.

Both teams finished with 10 fouls in a competitive match that saw three yellow cards issued.

What's Next

Cal Poly Humboldt will now head to the state of Oregon for a pair of non-conference matchups, visiting Saint Martin's on Thursday before squaring off with Western Oregon on Saturday.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's soccer, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.

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Twitter/X: @HumboldtJacks

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