ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Used to denying goals on the other end, Sacramento State junior defender Jaime Robles turned the tables on host Utah Tech late Friday night, netting the game-winner off a set piece in the 89th minute for a 1-0 shutout of the Trailblazers at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Utah.
The Hornets' unbeaten streak now stands at six straight, improving to 5-1-1 overall on the year while winning their third consecutive match. It is the longest unbeaten run by a Sacramento State squad since 2012 when the Hornets went 5-0-1 from Sept. 23-Oct. 12 that year, while the five wins in seven matches this season match the team's entire win total from all of 2021.
Peppering the Utah Tech goal with 11 shots and five on frame through the first 88 minutes, the only score of the match finally came at the 88:29 mark when Sacramento State was awarded a free kick on the far side.
Genaro Alfaro lined up over the ball from about 30 yards out and lofted a ball to the back right post. There Robles fought off his defender and easily flicked a header that split the Trailblazers' goalkeeper and the post, sneaking in for the go-ahead score and setting off a dogpile with his teammates near the top of the six.
Sacramento State then ran out the final 91 seconds to secure its first clean sheet of the season.
The goal was Robles' second of the year and his first since scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 win over San Jose State back on Aug. 28. Alfaro, meanwhile, netted his first assist of the year and his first helper since Sept. 2 of last season against the Spartans.
It was the latest goal scored in regulation by a Hornet since Eloge Iradukunda converted a penalty against Cal State Fullerton with 39 seconds remaining on Oct. 23 of last season, and the latest regulation game-winner since Alex Bettencourt scored at the 89:15 mark to defeat Portland, 2-1, on Sept. 15, 2016.
Sacramento State finished with a 12-5 advantage in shots — including an 8-2 lead in the second half — and managed three corners to five for Utah Tech. The Hornets' defense did well to quash any Trailblazer attack, holding the host side to without a shot on goal, leaving goalkeeper Mac Learned — who was making his first start since the match against San Jose State — without a save in collecting his first career shutout.
Freshman Justin Faison finished with a match-high four shot attempts, putting a pair of frame, while Ali Sasanhkah added two. Cody Sundquist, Austin Wehner, Axel Ramirez, Alfaro, and Max Haslemann, also added attempts for Sacramento State.
The Hornets close out their road trip on Sunday (Sept. 18) at 6 p.m., traveling to Las Vegas to take on former Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rival UNLV.
