TURLOCK — For the first time in program's CCAA history, the Stanislaus State men's soccer team starts the season 4-0 after posting another home pitch victory on Saturday. This time, it was over Humboldt State, 4-1.
Four different Warriors hit the back of the net on the day in the rare non-conference match against a California Collegiate Athletic Association opponent.
Jose Ramirez,
Ryan Chaney,
Danny Valenzuela and
Daniel Kuczynski all scored for Stanislaus.
This 2015 team bettered three previous squads guided by head coach
Dana Taylor. The 2009, 2011 and 2012 teams all started 3-0 but lost match No. 4. But that wasn't going to happen on Saturday as the Warriors set the tone early and netted a quick goal two minutes into the contest. Ramirez scored a header from an amazing free kick by
Gerardo Cazares from just in front of the HSU bench to make it 1-0.
The score remained 1-0 until the second half as the Warriors capitalized on a couple of Lumberjack defensive miscues to run up to 3-0. Kuczynski intercepted a lazy pass between Humboldt defenders at the edge of the box and fed Chaney who shot it off of a diving goalie Christopher Cherms to make it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Less than nine minutes later,
Manny Villegas stole a pass from deep in the attack zone and crossed it perfectly in front of the box for a Valenzuela header that lobbed over Cherms for the 3-0 score.
Humboldt State (1-3-0) did get a score in the 77th minute from its own free kick from Trice Smith that was finished with a header by Brett Alexander.
Kuczynski finished the Stanislaus scoring with his fifth of the season in the 81st minute. He ping-pong the shot in by hitting the right post after getting a long throw-in from
Jaime Ceja. Kuczynski, who had three goals and two assists on Monday, adds three more points to his totals and now has 40 career points, one shy of tying Victor Regalado's 41. Kuczynski also has 16 career goals to pull within one of Hall of Famer Regalado's tally of 17.
Saturday's win over Humboldt State also extended the Warriors' success over the Lumberjacks as Stanislaus is now 12-0-1 over the last 13 meetings.
Stanislaus will be back in action at home to continue the homestand with a 7:30 p.m. match against Holy Names (1-1-0).
