By Ethan Ndachi (@EthanNdachi) – Content editor | Senior midfielder Angel Iniguez vs USF on Sept. 4 (Photo by Max Garcia – Spear photographer)
San Jose State men’s soccer is back to its winning ways after a dominant 2-0 showing at Sacramento State’s Hornet Field. The Spartans now improve to 4-1 for the season, while the Hornets drop to 0-5-1.
SJSU’s winning streak against Sac State has extended to three now, with their last game being a 2-1 win at the Spartan Soccer Complex Sept. 1st 2024.
In the first five minutes, WAC offensive Player of the Year and senior midfielder Angel Iniguez played sophomore Cameron Cook through on the left wing, leaving the Englishman one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Cook makes no mistake and calmly puts it past the keeper, earning his first goal of the season in his second start since coming back from injury.
Iniguez earned his third assist of the season for his orchestrated efforts of the evening. Cook also looked lively playing higher on the left than the Spartans might be used to seeing him operate.
Off the back of sustained pressure in the 10th minute, sophomore midfielder Daniel Fregoso Bautista received the ball 25 yards out from goal before having a thunderous strike off his left foot to launch the ball into the top left corner of the net.
This was Fregoso Bautista’s first start of the season and his second goal for SJSU overall, and not a bad way to open your account for the season so far. Junior midfielders Gilberto Rivera and Angel Fernandez were credited for the stellar goal assist.
SJSU closed out the first half of the match with 54% possession, and 11 shots total with six on target. SAC meanwhile had zero shots, shut down for the whole half.
“After the back of a defeat, they definitely looked hungry to just make that right,” associate head coach Jesus Sanchez said. “I thought it was important for us to start strong so that we can put a foot forward and not let them grow into the game.”
In the 51st minute of the second half, Fernandez was fouled hard by Sacramento’s Sean Battistessa, sending him to the ground. Cook ran to his teammate before he was grabbed and pulled by another opposing player, Donovan Stessoms, which started another altercation reminiscent of Thursday’s game against University of San Francisco.
Already on a yellow card, Stessoms was sent off for his actions and Cook also received a yellow card for his part in the situation.
Sacramento made some improvements from the first half, having five shots against SJSU, but still none were able to hit home even after a near miss late in the second half by the Hornets.
“We needed to make some defensive adjustments after USF and I think the boys did a really good job making those adjustments today,” Sanchez said. SJSU have earned three clean sheets out of their first five games.
Sanchez also highlighted sophomore defender Tiko Moodie coming in and playing 77 minutes saying, “He did a great job for us.”
This was the Oakland native’s first start for SJSU since joining this season, having come off the bench against CSU Bakersfield and the University of San Francisco.
The Spartans look to build on this win when they face California State University at Northridge Thursday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
