SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore forward John Chronopoulos notched his second goal of 2014, but the Cal Poly men’s soccer program conceded a 78th-minute equalizer and an own goal in the 84th and dropped a 2-1 decision to Sacramento State inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Junior goalkeeper Wade Hamilton chalked up five saves to further his conference-leading total to 88 for Cal Poly (8-5-4, 3-3-2), which stayed in second place in the Big West North Division standings with Wednesday’s loss. Sacramento State (5-9-3, 3-4-1), however, improved to 10 points in the division and moved within one point of Cal Poly.

The Mustangs close the home portion of their 2014 regular season schedule when hosting Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. UC Santa Barbara (8-6-3, 4-2-2) moved into a first-place tie atop the Big West North Division with UC Davis (7-2-9, 4-2-2) following a 1-0 overtime win versus the Aggies earlier Wednesday.

“This game came down to the little moments,” Cal Poly interim head coach Phil Ruskin said. “There were some moments where we were good and executed well. And then there were moments when we didn’t come up with the correct play and didn’t finish our chances and tackles and that’s the definition of the game.

“I told our guys before the game that where we end plays and how we challenge and tackle makes a huge difference. That’s what defined the game tonight.”

Sacramento State enjoyed an early attempt to take the lead on five minutes with defender Mason McCann hitting the post. Seven minutes later, Cal Poly forced the game’s first save with Mustang junior midfielder Chase Minter turned away by Hornet goalkeeper Philip Bru.

Both squads continued to trade chances in the opening half as Hornet forward Chimdum Mez fired over the crossbar in the 24th before Chronopoulos did the same in the 27th.

Cal Poly eventually broke through in the 54th as a free kick from Minter bounded off Mustang midfielder Matt LaGrassa and toward Chronopoulos at the left post, who buried one of his two shot attempts on the night.

“John was pretty good tonight and did the right things going forward,” Ruskin added. “He caused problems and I think John put in a strong performance, as did Sean Dhillon and Matt LaGrassa.”

In the 65th, Cal Poly enjoyed the opportunity to go up two, but Minter saw a penalty saved low to the right by Bru.

The Hornets nearly tied the match on 68 minutes, but forward Cylus Sandoval struck the crossbar with Hamilton drawn out from goal.

Nine minutes later, however, Sacramento State equalized through Sandoval, who drove a free kick from the top of the Mustang penalty box low and inside the right post.

Hamilton chalked up four second-half saves, but Sacramento State – through Sandoval again – produced the match winner six minutes from full time. Running in on the left edge of the penalty area, Sandoval fired a shot toward the right post. The ball struck a leaping Jack O’Connor and caromed off Cal Poly’s sophomore defender into the goal.

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