SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State picked up critical points in the Big West race on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat the visiting UC San Diego Tritons, 2-1, in overtime at Hornet Field. Francisco Magana (78') and Titus Washington (98') each scored in the win. 

With the victory, Sacramento State improves to 4-8-3 overall and 2-2-2 in Big West play. UCSD falls to 4-9 overall and 1-5 in league.

With that in the back of the team's mind, things got off to a quick start on Saturday, despite a scoreless first half. Both teams had chances, with the Tritons and Hornets taking 6 and 5 shots, respectively, through the first 45. Both teams put two shots on goal, but neither managed to sneak one into goal as both Sacramento State's Ryan Curtis and UC San Diego's Nicholas Shor each made two first half saves.

The game's first score came in the 53rd minute off the head of UCSD's Nick Cirrito, the Triton's leading goal scorer. After a well-placed forward ball by the Triton's back line, Max Carvalho beat his defender into the corner, firing off a clean cross to Cirrito, waiting at the top of the six. Cirrito leaped and headed the ball down, under the diving Curtis and into the back of the net. 

UC San Diego's 1-nil score held for 25 minutes before Sacramento State was able to answer, in large part thanks to a number of excellent saves by Curtis, including back-to-back saves in the 77th minute, blocking one shot then deflecting the second attempt on the rebound.

Finally, the Hornets found the equalizer in the 78th. Charging down the field, Tyler Moss found himself with space in the corner before lofting a cross into the box for a waiting Francisco Magana. Leaping, Magana headed the ball just enough to change its direction, sending it into the lower near corner and well out of reach Shor. 

The equalizer was Magana's second goal of the season and for Moss, who is having a career year in his senior campaign, the assist was his fifth. 

With the score level, 1-1, the two teams traded chances, but neither were able to pull ahead before the end of regulation. 

Nearly eight full minutes ticked off the clock in overtime before Sacramento State broke through for the win. Once again, it was Moss sending a high forward ball to a sprinting Titus Washington. After controlling the ball just outside the box, Washington worked his way around two defenders before finding just enough of an opening. His shot banged off the far post, deflecting back into the near corner of the net for the 98th minute golden goal. 

The goal was Washington's second this season while for Moss, the assist brought his regular season total to six.

The shot was Sacramento State's 16th of the match. Both teams piled up 16 shots, though the Hornets led in shots on goal, 7-6. Sacramento State also led in corner kicks, a dominating 8-3 showing. Curtis and Shor each made five saves and the Hornets were whistled for nine fouls, compared to the Triton's three.

The lone yellow card of the match was shown to UC San Diego's Carvalho after he fell on the ball, trapping it and directing it between his knees in the 79th minute.

With the win, Sacramento State now has eight points in the Big West. As of Saturday afternoon, that was tied for fifth in the Big West, though a number of matches are slated for a Saturday night start.

Saturday's match was a critical one for the Hornets, who, with just three matches remaining on the regular schedule, are very much in the hunt for a Big West Tournament bid. 

Up next for the Hornets is a challenging midweek showdown at UC Santa Barbara. Sacramento State takes on the Big West-leading Gauchos Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara. The match will stream live online on ESPN+ with live stats available through HornetStats.com.