Early Goal Sends Cal Poly to 1-0 Defeat

by Chris Giovannetti

October 5, 2012

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal State Northridge sophomore forward Sagi Lev-Ari scored 21 seconds after the opening whistle on Friday evening and the Cal Poly men’s soccer program failed to find an equalizing goal against the Matadors, dropping a 1-0 decision at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Cal State Northridge (8-4-0, 2-1-0) kicked off Friday’s contest and sent an early ball toward the Mustang penalty area. The ball was played back for goalkeeper Chase Hauser to control, but Cal Poly’s sophomore pushed the ball too far out ahead of himself and Lev-Ari pounced onto the miscue.

Despite scoring early, the Matadors were held without another shot on target for the next 53 minutes and Hauser recorded three additional saves late in the second half to keep Cal Poly within striking distance.

Cal Poly (6-5-0, 1-2-0) began probing for the equalizer minutes after Lev-Ari’s strike. Junior forward Mackenzie Pridham, Cal Poly’s leader with five goals, forced Matador junior goalkeeper Michael Abalos into a ninth-minute save. In the 16th minute, Abalos came out of his penalty area to clear a ball. The kick fell to Cal Poly senior forward Benny Estes, who subsequently fired right of an open net from 40 yards.

Into the second half, Mustang junior forward Chris Bernardi ripped a shot that ricocheted off a Matador defender before finding the gloves of Abalos in the 51st minute. Cal Poly’s best chance to equalize late occurred in the 78th, but after dribbling down the center channel and snaking his way into the Cal State Northridge defense, Mustang senior forward Chris Gaschen struck the right post.

Cal State Northridge outshot Cal Poly, 14-9.

The Mustangs wrap their two-match home stand on Sunday, Oct. 7 against UC Irvine at 1 p.m.