LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Cody Sundquist and Axel Ramirez each dented the back on the net on the night, but a brace by UC San Diego's Andrew Valverde helped the homestanding Tritons defend their home field, handing Sacramento State a 3-2 defeat on Saturday night at the Triton Soccer Stadium.
The loss dropped the Hornets to 6-3-2 overall on the season while evening their Big West Conference record at 1-1. UCSD improved to 5-4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
In only the second meeting between the two programs, it was a second-half flurry that pushed UC San Diego to the victory after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw after the first 45 minutes.
Sundquist, who had the game-winner in Sacramento State's 1-0 victory at CSU Bakersfield earlier in the week, staked his side to the early lead, finding the back of the net in the 30th minute for his second goal in as many matches.
Surrounded by defenders, teammate Austin Wehner was able to push the ball free toward the top of the six to Sundquist who, with a defender draped all over his back, poked a left-footed shot past the UCSD keeper to the left post for opening score.
Valverde needed just five minutes to net the tying score in the 35th minute and the Tritons needed just 32 seconds in the second half to take their first lead of the match as a shot was saved by goalkeeper
Edgar Guerra, but the rebound took an unfortunate touch off a Hornet defender and rolled over the line for an own goal and a 2-1 UCSD lead.
Six minutes later,
Axel Ramirez was able to equalize, netting his first goal of the season in the 52nd minute to tie the match at two apiece. Off a long throw by Wehner,
Alejandro Padilla held off a couple of UCSD defenders and poked a pass to Ramirez in the box, who powered a right-footed shot through traffic to the upper right side.
The match remained that way until the 67th minute when Valverde netted his second of the match off passes by Alan Kim and Nick Cirrito for the eventual game-winner.
From that point on, things turned defensive as the Hornets managed just four shots, but put only one on frame as Dominic Peters easily scooped up a
Francisco Magana attempt in the 81st minute.
UC San Diego finished with a 16-13 advantage in shots, but the Hornets were able to put six of their 13 attempts on frame for the night. Five different Sacramento State players finished with two shots apiece, while Guerra, who came on in relief of starter
Mac Learned late in the first half finished with a pair of stops.
Sacramento State resumes league play at home on Wednesday (Oct. 5), welcoming CSUN to Hornet Soccer Field for a 3 p.m. kick-off, then makes a return trip to Southern California on Saturday (Oct. 8) to take on UC Irvine at 7 p.m. at Anteater Stadium.
