SAN JOSE, Calif. – Neo Ruiz and Cameron Cook scored late goals to lead the San José State men’s soccer team (2-3-0, 0-0-0 MW) in a 2-1 comeback victory over Sacramento State (1-4-0, 0-0-0 Big West) on Sunday night at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
The Spartans controlled possession and applied consistent pressure throughout the match, finishing with a 20-5 advantage in shots and holding 64 percent of the possession.
Sacramento State opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Sac State headed in the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. SJSU entered halftime trailing despite producing four corner kicks and limiting Sacramento State to three shots.
The Spartans took command after the break, outshooting the Hornets 16-2 in the second half. Their pressure finally paid off in the 81st minute when Ruiz scored his first goal of the season off assists from Ruben Flores-Thomas and Daniel Fregoso Bautista to level the match.
Less than four minutes later, Cook completed the comeback with his first goal of the season. Fregoso Bautista delivered the assist, giving him two on the night, as Cook put the Spartans ahead in the 85th minute.
SJSU goalkeeper Ronin Axelson made one save to earn his second victory of the season. The Spartans placed seven shots on goal, earned five corner kicks and committed only four fouls in the win.
- This is the Spartans’ fourth win in a row against Sacramento State
- This is also the first come from behind victory for the Spartans this season
- Cook’s goal is the sixth of his career and also his third career game-winner
- Ruiz’s goal is the second of his career
- Fregoso Bautista now has three assists on the season
- This also marked Fregoso Bautista’s first career game with multiple assists
- Flores-Thomas recorded his first assist of the season
- Axelson is up to 21 saves on the season through five games
UP NEXT: The Spartans will Pacific on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. PT at the Spartan Soccer Complex. The game can be watched on MW+.
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