SAN FRANCISCO– The SF State Gators' saw their three-game winning streak snapped this afternoon in the finale of the Kezar Classic as the hosts, Academy of Art Urban Knights, won 1-0 in the final minutes of the first overtime period. This was the first time in four matches that the Gators have allowed a goal, which is the first time in school history that a SF State men's soccer team has opened up the season with three straight shutouts.
The 3-0 start was also the first time that the Gators had opened that way since 1946. With the loss, SF State is now 3-1 which is the third time since 2007 that the Gators have started the season with a 3-1 record.
Kristof Urbanyi connected on a penalty kick in the 98
th minute to record the golden goal in the Urban Knights 1-0 victory.
For their third consecutive match, the Gators outshot their opponents 18-14 including 5-3 in shot on goal attempts. Also for their fourth consecutive match, SF State held an advantage corner kicks this time a 4-2 advantage.
From the 16
th to 20
th minute marks of the match, SF State had five chances to take the lead including two that were stopped by the Urban Knights' Kevin Mendez. The Urban Knight goalkeeper stopped
Jakob Velega's shot on goal attempt in the 16
th minute and
Armando Flores' attempt in the 18
th minute to give the visitors the early lead.
It looked like in the 26
th minute that Ayden Bowers was going to record his first goal as a Gator, but Mendez snagged that attempt from going into the back of the net.
Academy of Art (3-1) had its only chance to take the lead in the first half be stopped by the Gators'
Emmanuel Jimenez in the 33
rd minute as he kept Jon Eldon's shot from going into the back of the net.
SF State had a final chance in the final second of the first half to take the lead, but
James Aguirre's shot went wide as the match went into the second half scoreless.
Aguirre had another chance to give the Gators the lead in the second half, but his attempt was stopped by Mendez in the 56
th minute. Mendez made another save of a Gator shot on goal attempt in the 69
th minute, this time it was off a header from
Max Talbert that he stopped.
Jimenez stopped the Urban Knights' Urbanyi from giving the guests the lead in the 74
th minute. Then seven minutes later,
Sam Merritt's attempt from being the hero hit the cross bar.
Ilja Golubevs had his attempt be blocked by the Urban Knight defense in the 82
nd minute and then in the 83
rd minute, Merritt's attempt sailed wide.
The Gators had one more chance sail high off the foot of
Joe Rousseau in the 87
th minute as the match went into the sudden death periods. Golubevs recorded the Gators' only shot attempt in the overtime period as it sailed wide left in the 93
rd minute.
With two minutes left in the first overtime sudden death period, the Gators were called for a foul in the box and Kristof Urbanyi connected on the penalty kick for the game-winner for Academy of Art.
Mendez finished with five saves in goal for the Urban Knights while Jimenez had two in goal for the Gators.
SF State will return home this Tuesday, September 15 at 3pm, when the Gators host Holy Names University in their final non-conference match of the season. The Gators will begin their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season on Friday, September 18 in Turlock, Calif., for a 4:30pm starting match with the Stanislaus State Warriors.
Box Score-----
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
