SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State men's soccer team was denied their first victory of the season as a late goal by visiting Fresno Pacific resulted in a 2-2 draw on Sunday at Cox Stadium.
- Issay Bravo scored in his third straight contest dating back to last season. Sunday's goal was his second of the season and the senior also added an assist, bringing Bravo's points total to five, which is currently tied for the most among all CCAA players.
- Both teams move to 0-1-1 overall.
- FPU had a 17-9 shot advantage but both teams placed five shots on goal.
- The Sunbirds also held a 7-2 corner kick advantage.
- The Gators played a man down the last 33:45 after Nathan Garcia received his second yellow card of the day in the 56th minute and was sent to the sidelines with a red card. He'll have to sit out SF State's next contest versus Jessup.
Both teams had two shots on goal in the first half but played to a scoreless first half.
SF State wasted no time in the second half. In the 48th minute, Mahmoud Shimila played the ball back to Angel Herrera, who played it forward down the right side to Bravo, who chipped the ball into the box for a wide-open header to Isaac Sandoval and his shot bounced to the left side past the keeper.
The lead was short lived though, and Garcia's red card proved costly. A minute after the Gators went a man down, in the 57th minute, Lucas Ribeiro drew a foul in the box. The Sunbirds forward converted the penalty kick to knot the contest at 1-1.
However, the Gators responded and regained the lead in the 67th minute. The Sunbirds failed to clear a ball that ricocheted off of a Gator and straight to Bravo, who fired a left-footed shot to the upper left for a 2-1 Gators lead.
The lead held until the 89th minute. Six Gators were in the box but the ball found Ribeiro in front of the goal mouth, and Ribeiro fired with 1:33 remaining for the equalizer.
Hayden Frost (0-1-1) made three saves and allowed two goals in a full 90 minutes in goal for the Gators.
Sunbirds goalkeeper Elmer Carballo (0-1-1) also made three saves and allowed a pair of goals in a complete-game effort.
"Today we had a great game plan and we feel it showed. This beautiful game can be cruel sometimes. Above that, we are starting to see our culture and identity take shape. We worked hard, were composed and, when needed, we showed our grit," said Head Coach Sebastian Carrasco. "Unfortunately we conceded a goal with a minute to go to an FPU team that also never gave up."
SF State hosts Jessup on Thursday, September 12 at Noon. Live stats will be available at sfstategators.com and fans can stream the match live on FloFC.
