HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's soccer team on Monday dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to San Francisco State at Saint Louis Field.
The Silverswords, who trailed 2-1, with just four minutes remaining, got the tying goal from
Kainoa Carpenter (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui), and it seemed a draw would be inevitable.
However, the Gators wasted no time in responding, getting the winning score just 30 seconds later.
The loss dropped the 'Swords to 0-2 on the season while SFSU won its season opener.
San Francisco State struck quickly, getting the game's first goal just two minutes in. Chaminade replied in the 21st minute when
Alessio Franco (Guadalajara, Mexico/East Grand Rapids, Mich.), with the wind blowing out from Palolo Valley, curled in a corner kick to square the game. It was the second time in as many games the 'Swords scored directly off a corner kick with
Owen Caba (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) doing it on Saturday against Northwest Nazarene.
The game remained tied at 1 going into the second half but a foul was called inside the Chaminade box, allowing Julio Gonzalez Ponce to give the Gators a lead on the subsequent penalty kick.
With time winding down in the 85th minute,
La'akea Gonsalves (Anahola, Kaua'i, Hawai'i/Kapa'a) gathered in a ball and made a spinning left-footed chip to Caba for a potential breakaway. Caba's shot deflected off the left post and nearly crossed the line but Carpenter managed to gather in the ball at the right post and fired a shot into the lower left shelf to knot the game at 2 for the freshman's first career goal.
But the Gators managed to steal the victory 30 seconds later when Giovanni Nieves fired a through-ball past CUH defenders to Georgi Stoyanov who then fired a shot over charging goalkeeper Jordan Valmonte (Poolesville, Md./Robert Morris University/Poolesville HS) for the game-winner.
Both teams took 12 shots at the net with seven being on-goal for the Gators and five for the 'Swords. Mario De La Torre played the second half for SFSU and made one save to earn the win. Valmonte, making his first start in a CUH uniform, made four saves to take the loss.
The Silverswords will be back in action at home on Thursday when they host Cal State East Bay. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m.
