The SF State Gators kept their winning streak alive with a 2-1 win Friday, bringing their overall record to 5-2 on the young season. The Gators played well against the stumbling Stanislaus State Warriors (3-6), who had dropped five straight.
Following Friday’s victory, the Gators’ winning streak came to an end with a loss to the Chico State Wildcats (7-1) on Sunday, Oct. 6, with a final score of 2-1.
Returning to Friday’s match-up with the Warriors, the Gators’ extended their winning streak to five games with their victory, while keeping opponents to a maximum of one goal.
“It’s just playing one game at a time, it’s nice to have this win streak but we know how strong our conference is,” said head coach Pedro Osorio. “We’re not really worried about how long we can keep this win streak going, we just go in one game at a time.”
An essential part of the winning streak is sophomore forward Ramiro Palencia, playing a key role in the Gators being victorious Friday with his team-leading third goal of the season at the 20th minute.
Leading up to the first goal of the contest, the Gators continued to keep a heavy attack on their opponents, outshooting the Warriors 4-1 in the first half. There was a feeling that the ball would eventually find the net.
Receiving the ball just outside the box, freshman forward Seiya Otsuka rushed to the net, drawing a double team and the goalkeeper’s attention, leaving a roaming Palencia wide open for a pass /and tap in goal on the left side of the net.
“It’s exciting, being three goals and the first goal for our home opener,” said Palencia. “It’s a great feeling, just gotta keep on going and not even think about it. Everyone around is excellent, I just feed off of them.”
As previously mentioned, the Gators kept the pressure on the Warriors throughout most of the first half with strong play down the middle, keeping the ball on the Warriors side of the field.
It wasn’t until the second half when Warriors’ Junior Defender Miguel Galdamez snuck a goal past Gators’ junior goalkeeper Peter Swinkels for an equalizer shot in the 62nd minute.
However, two game-minutes later the Warriors made a costly mistake by fouling senior forward Francisco Saucedo within the box to give the Gators a penalty kick in the 64th minute.
The pressure was put on the shoulders of senior midfielder Jonathan Orazco, who bounced a shot through the lower-left part of the net to give the Gators the lead and collect his second goal of the season.
“It was a great opportunity to put the team on top,” said Orozco. “I was able to finish it and give the team a win, it was a good play by [Saucedo], protecting the ball and getting pushed, I’m glad I was given that chance.”
The Gators outplayed the Warriors in every facet of the game, with a busier offense that outshot the Warriors 10-5 with a stifling defense that kept goalkeeper Swinkels out of any trouble other than the one goal scored.
An attempt to get back on a winning track will be taken on the road when the Gators visit Cal State San Marcos (3-5-2) on Friday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m.
