SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Sophomore Simon Vaca-Lorenzi netted his first goal of the season on a penalty in the 82nd minute on Wednesday night, but visiting Sacramento State could not recover from a pair of early second-half scores by Cal Poly in a 3-1 defeat in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The Hornets fell to 4-6-2 overall and 1-2 in Big West Conference play on the year with the result, while the Mustangs improved to 5-3-4 overall and 2-0-1 in league matches.

Vaca-Lorenzi's score came with just over eight minutes to play in the match as a ball was played into Cal Poly box near the top of the six. Vaca-Lorenzi got a touch on the ball before being pushed down from behind, drawing a penalty which he promptly buried to the right side.

It was his second career goal and his first since his second-ever collegiate appearance at Gonzaga back on Aug. 27, 2023.

However, the goal wasn't enough to offset an early onslaught from Cal Poly out of the locker room after the break as the Mustangs scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half after the two teams had combined for three total shots in the first 45 minutes.

Jackson Miller broke up the scoreless draw with his score 61 seconds into the period and the lead was doubled on a successful penalty from Diego Guerra in the 50th minute after Sacramento State was whistled for a handball inside the box. Cal Poly capped its night with a third goal in the 79th minute en route to the win.

The Mustangs finished with a 10-6 shot advantage — nine of those coming in the second half — and put five of those on frame compared to three for the Hornets.

Sacramento State closes out the weekend with a trip to Southern California on Saturday (Oct. 12) at UC San Diego, kicking-off against the Tritons at 7 p.m. UCSD fell to Cal State Fullerton, 4-1, on Wednesday night to open its weekend.