SFU men’s soccer’s 33-game home unbeaten streak was snapped Saturday night after California State University San Bernardino scored a goal in the second minute and then hung on for a 1-0 win in the final game of the Burnaby Showdown.
The outcome came despite the Coyotes playing with just 10 men for nearly 60 minutes. SFU, ranked No. 13 in the Div. 2 NCAA, generated 16 shots at San Bernardino’s net and played the entire second half in the attacking zone, but very few chances got through to the goal.
"Very disappointed in our group,” said SFU head coach Clint Schneider. “(We were) obviously not prepared to play and conceded early and I take full responsibility for that. We will get better. I think we created plenty of chances in the game to equalize but our decision making wasn't good enough and we lack that little bit of quality.
“All credit to Cal State San Bernardino. They were organized and made it difficult to break down. They deserved to win.”
SFU had pushed its home unbeaten streak to 33 games with a 3-1 win over No. 2-ranked Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday in its season-opener. They counted two goals within a span of three minutes midway through the first half to take control, then made it 3-1 at the 60-minute mark.
Matteo Polisi notched his 29th as a member of the Clan, while William Raphael counted the team’s second goal. In the second half, freshman Christian Hanche-Olsen tallied his first goal on a set-up from Raphael.
SFU plays the next three games on the road before returning home for its Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener Oct. 3 against Saint Martin’s on Terry Fox Field.
