ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - On Saturday September 15th, the Sonoma State men's soccer team returned to their home pitch for a non-conference matchup against bay area rival SF State. The Seawolves would play the Gators and then the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds the following Tuesday to conclude their preseason campaign before starting CCAA play the following weekend. SSU fell to PacWest opponent Dominican University earlier in the week but looked to get back to their winning ways and even out their record with a tough home matchup against SF State. The Gators entered the game with an impressive 4-1 record while the Seawolves sat at 2-3 with key wins over Western Washington and St. Martins. 

Home turf was kind to the Seawolves today as they played in their first home match since September 4th. The game would start in a bit of gridlock as both teams continued to feel each other out for the first 30 minutes. However, as the physical play increased so did SSU's intensity as senior forward Sebastian Bernal-Santos got the scoring off with a right footed tap in to make it 1-0. Freshman outside back Miles Hodgson served in a whipped cross from the left side into the box off of a free kick where Evan Sadler challenged for the 50/50 ball and was able to push it back to the left side of the box for Santos. Santos fought off a defender to tap it in with just 10 minutes to go in the first half. 

The Seawolves out shot the Gators 8-4 in the first half as they are currently second in the conference with total shots. With just two minutes left in the first half and the Seawolves seizing momentum, captain Sean Rohane continued his scoring ways as he netted a sensational left footed strike from about 30 yards out that rattled off the inside of the right post and in. Outside back Jason Hernandez would feed Rohane a pass into the midfield where he would turn with a defender on his side and have a shot on goal. A quality candidate for goal of the season so far, Rohane and his teammates stormed to the far side and celebrated in front of the Seawolf fans just before the half. 

Despite the continued physicality and an SF State red card, the Seawolves 2-0 lead would hold as Ziemer and his team would secure the crucial home victory. "That was an incredible team win. "They are a very good team and I'm proud of how we bounced back after a tough loss on Wednesday", said head coach Marcus Ziemer. "We were well prepared and the game went just like how we anticipated" (Ziemer, HC). 

Transfer keeper Reinier Ter Riet also made his first career start as a Seawolf and did not disappoint. Riet only recorded one save in the match but it came in the opening minutes on a shot attempt inside the 18-yard box where he had to dive back across his body and also push the ball away from an SF State forward on the other side. Riet was great with his feet as well helping distribute the ball around the back line and keep possession. "Reinier was very sharp in goal today and our backs were relentless defensively all game" (Ziemer, HC). 

Freshman Lucas English made his impact known with some thunderous challenges to stop several SF State attacks in the match. He would tally 61 minutes in the win. Him and Matt Walleigh helped anchor the back line earning the Seawolves the shutout victory. Freshman Ian Reis would sub in at center back for Lucas English late in the second half and provide quality minutes to help close out the game. Sebastian Bernal-Santos's goal would go down as his first goal of the season as well to add to the Seawolves dynamic attack. Sonoma State will now prepare for their last preseason match as they face off against Fresno Pacific on Tuesday September 28th at Seawolf Soccer Field. The Seawolves even out their record at 3-3-0 on the year and will start CCAA play next weekend at home. 

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