Gater soccer starts slow

In a game filled with yellow-card cautions and aggressive fouls the SF State men's soccer team succumbed to defeat, 3-0, at the hands of the California State University Dominguez Hills Toros in Saturday's season-opener.

The Gators had trouble staying on the attack offensively, with only seven shots on goal to Dominguez Hills' 18.

"We need to be better organized," first-year head coach Joe Hunter said. "I'd like to see us play a better ball possession game."

Neither team needed a spark on defense, though. Dominguez Hills received five yellow-card warnings while SF State earned two of its own, and the two teams combined for 37 fouls.

According to freshman forward Leif Lundaas(cq) the Gators need to get even more aggressive.

"I think this is the way we have to get used to playing. We were maybe too weak on our tackles," he said. "A yellow card means you're playing hard, you're just late on the tackle. That's all a yellow card is."

Hunter agreed, saying the Gators need to adjust to an aggressive team like Dominguez Hills sooner.

"That is typical of Dominguez Hills," Hunter said. "They're a scrappy team. We were on the receiving end a little too much."

However, Hunter said the key to winning is moving the ball into scoring position.

"There were some good things, but it boiled down to who made the least mistakes, and that certainly wasn't us." Hunter said.

The Gators had one goal by sophomore Matt Chaffey(cq) nullified by an offside call in the first half, and the only other good scoring opportunity was a penalty shot by Lundaas that was blocked by the Dominguez Hills goal keeper Shawn Scalon(cq).

Both of Dominguez Hills' goals came in the first half, one a header by Ryan Robertson and the other a shot off the deflection of a save by goal keeper Aaron Linder(cq).

"I was pleased by our performance in the second half. We need to consider this as a learning experience and file it away," Hunter said.

Senior defender Ron Shackelford(cq) said the SF State players need more time together to gel as team if they want to beat teams like Dominguez Hills.

"We shut them out the second half, but I mean you're just getting to know each other's names in the first half," he said. "Seeing as how they've already had two games against Division I schools under their belt, I think we're further along this year than last."

Senior Ruben Jiminez(cq) agreed. "We just need to play together more and gain more experience with each other. No disrespect to last year's team, but we're better than last year."

Hunter acknowledged that this year's team is better skilled and has a deeper bench than last year's. However, he said this team has a long way to go.

"I'd like this to serve as a challenge to our players to step up and get the job done, and to start training and playing like they should."

The men's next home game will be Sept. 20 at 2:00 pm against UC Davis on Maloney Field.

[ back to Golden Gater Online September 7, 1995 ]

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