SACRAMENTO, Calif. - San José State scored early and, after the Hornets tied it up in the 51st minute on a goal by sophomore Kayla Collins, the Spartans quickly regained the lead just four minutes later en route to a 2-1 win on Sunday at Hornet Field.

In its home opener before an announced crowd of 485 fans on Future Hornet Kids Club Day, Sacramento State (0-3-0) once again played mostly even against its opponent but was unable to pick up a victory. San José State (2-1-1) concluded its season-opening four-game road trip with its second win of the season.

"Its unfortunate; I feel like we're improving every game and our girls played tremendously hard today," Sacramento State head coach Randy Dedini said. "We keep improving but we also keep making mistakes that cost us goals. They're fixable mistakes and as long as we don't keep making the same mistakes twice and we're still playing with this kind of spirit I think we're going to be just fine."

The Spartans took their lead just three minutes and 18 seconds into Sunday's contest. The Hornets were whistled for a foul just on top of their 18-yard box and San José State junior Maricruz Chapa put home the free kick with a shot past the Hornet wall and into the left side of the goal.

San José State nearly doubled its lead in the 22nd minute when senior Mireya Walthen-Mayoraga hit the crossbar. Sacramento State started to create offensive pressure after that as junior Jennifer Lum narrowly missed wide on a clear look on goal and, in the 29th minute, Collins attempted three consecutive corner kicks but the Hornets could not convert. Sophomore Kylee Smith also had a shot hit the crossbar in the 31st minute as the visitors held onto their 1-0 lead in the intermission.

In the 51st minute, Hornet senior Josie Jogwe played a bouncing ball forward with a header and Collins outran two Spartan defenders to get the ball in the box. She finished low past charging SJSU goalie Zoe Makrigiannis for his first career collegiate goal.

Less than four minutes later, Makrigiannis booted a ball well past midfield and found teammate Dorthe Hoppius for a touch to freshman Darriell Franklin, who took a dribble and beat Hornet goalkeeper Destiny Butcher with a low shot inside the far post.

Butcher made four strong saves in the second half to keep the deficit at one goal but, despite three corner kicks and two more shots on goal, Sacramento State couldn't equalize.

For the game Sacramento State had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks but was outshot 12-10, with the Spartans posting an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Butcher made a career-high six saves while Collins, playing her first home game as a Hornet after transferring from UC Davis, had a team-high three shots.

The Hornets go back on the road next week with games at CSU Bakersfield Friday and UC Santa Barbara next Sunday.