LOS ANGELES -- Winners of three straight, the Sacramento State men's soccer team went toe-to-toe with the No. 24-ranked team in the nation, but a penalty in the box with 35 seconds remaining in regulation led to the game-winner from the spot for host Loyola Marymount, which escaped with a 2-1 victory over the Hornets on Sunday evening at Sullivan Field.
The heartbreaking defeat dropped Sacramento State to 3-3 overall on the season as the Hornets took on their second nationally ranked opponent of the year. The Lions remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 2-0-3.
It was sophomore Hasan Alsakati that got Sacramento State on the board first in the eighth minute of the contest as senior Austin Wehner stole the ball away in LMU's defensive third and fed Alsakati. The sophomore powered through a tackle from a Lion defender and slotted a right-footed shot just inside the right post for his first collegiate goal and a 1-0 lead.
The assist was Wehner's team-high third of the season — all coming in the last three matches after his two helpers at Air Force back on Sept. 3.
The score remained that way until the 30th minute when LMU was able to find the equalizer. A ball played into the box was initially saved by goalkeeper
Mac Learned, but the rebound squirted free, allowing Lewis Clutton to pounce on the loose ball and poke it home into an open net to tie the match at 1-1.
Sacramento State had a golden opportunity to regain the lead in the 42nd minute as freshman
Zac Giles found himself open on the back post and unleashed a point-blank header off a cross from
Michael Gonzalez, but the Lions' keeper was able to recover in time to turn away the attempt, keeping the match deadlocked at the break.
Both teams turned up the heat in the second half, combining for 19 total shot attempts, but none finding the back of the net. The sides looked as if they would have to settle for a tie until the final minute when Clutton was taken down near the endline on the right side of the penalty area, awarding LMU a penalty kick. Ryan Kingsford then stepped up and buried his attempt to the right side for the eventual game-winner.
The Lions held a 19-11 advantage in shots, including a 9-3 lead in shots on goal, with six of those 19 coming off the foot of Clutton.
Dominic Vegaalban finished with a team-high three attempts for the Hornets, while
Francisco Magana came off the bench to add a pair of attempts. Goalkeeper
Mac Learned finished with seven saves in net.
Sacramento State will play only its second home match of the year on Thursday (Sept. 14) at 4 p.m., hosting Saint Mary's at Hornet Soccer Field.
