SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State (2-11-4) secured a vital 2-1 victory over UC San Diego (1-8-7) on Saturday evening at Hornet Soccer Field. Donovan Sessoms and Zac Giles provided the goals for the hosts in front of 847 spectators, while Adam Dunbar netted for the visitors.
Sessoms opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a well-placed shot into the lower center of the goal. The Hornets doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Zac Giles found the net off an assist from Hasan Alsakati. UC San Diego pulled one back through Adam Dunbar's strike in the 71st minute, but couldn't find an equalizer.
The first half saw Sacramento State control much of the early possession, with Sessoms particularly active in attack. Vincent Padilla tested the Tritons' defense with a shot in the 43rd minute that sailed high. Adam Hillis received a booking in the 53rd minute as tensions rose, while Sean Battistessa earned a yellow card for Sacramento State in the 42nd minute for unsporting behavior.
UC San Diego emerged with renewed energy after the break, creating several dangerous opportunities. Kai Oppenheim forced a save in the 46th minute, while James Redington's effort in the 65th minute tested the Hornets' goalkeeper. The Tritons' pressure finally paid off through Dunbar's goal, but Sacramento State's defense, led by Leonardo Martinez, held firm in the closing stages.
The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of the contest. Sacramento State recorded 14 shot attempts with 6 on target, while UC San Diego managed 19 attempts with 5 finding the frame. The hosts held a slight edge in corner kicks (6-5), while the disciplinary count showed five yellow cards total - four for Sacramento State and one for UC San Diego.
Several players stood out individually. Donovan Sessoms was particularly influential for Sacramento State, recording four shot attempts before being substituted in the 86th minute. Adam Hillis showed both creativity and intensity for UC San Diego, though his yellow card highlighted the match's competitive nature. Gavin Allegaert created dangerous moments for the Tritons, including a close attempt in the 86th minute.
Tactically, Sacramento State's approach focused on quick transitions through Sessoms and Giles, while UC San Diego attempted to build through midfield with Adam Dunbar and James Redington orchestrating the attack. The Hornets' defensive organization, particularly after taking the two-goal lead, proved crucial to securing the result.
The victory marks Sacramento State's first win in three matches, providing a boost after recent defeats to UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. For UC San Diego, the loss ends a brief positive run that included a draw against CSUN and victory over CSU Bakersfield.
Both teams showed moments of quality throughout the ninety minutes, but Sacramento State's clinical finishing in the first half ultimately proved decisive. The Hornets' ability to weather UC San Diego's second-half pressure demonstrated important resilience for a team that had struggled to close out matches this season.
Looking ahead, Sacramento State will travel to face UC Davis on November 1, while UC San Diego returns home to host Cal State Fullerton on the same date. Both matches kick off at 10:00 PM as the teams continue their conference campaigns.