CHICO, CA – Menlo Men's Soccer faced a tough defeat against Chico State on Saturday night, falling 1-2 in a hard-fought battle at the University's Soccer Stadium. After an explosive offensive showing against Sonoma State just two days earlier, the Oaks were unable to find an equalizer under the evening lights on the road.
Haekefaer on Fire
Junior striker Isak Haukefaer continued his scoring streak, netting his fifth goal in five matches. Haukefaer demonstrated his offensive domination once again against the Wildcats with two shots, one of which found the back of the net. Haukefaer has carried over his successes from last season and is on track to outperform his stats from 2023. Last season the Oak was able to score on 6 different occasions, and most memorably during the NAIA National Championship Tournament in Menlo's historical victory in the Opening Round. His contributions have been crucial for Menlo, impacting their victories, ties, and now this narrow loss this 2024 season.
Alongside Haukefaer, forward Mattia Celant was also active offensively, launching three shots with two on target, though he was unable to convert. The Oaks demonstrated a commendable offensive effort, recording nine shots total, with five on goal. Despite having ten corner kick opportunities, Chico State's defense managed to thwart Menlo's attempts to capitalize, effectively clearing the box on each occasion.
Defensively, Menlo's back line stood strong, with Roy Rosenberg, Ian Brusewitz, and David Stuber performing all 90 minutes. Their resilience kept the Oaks competitive throughout the match, showcasing their cohesion as a group.
Up Next….
As the Oaks regroup, they look to leverage the lessons learned from this match in their upcoming contest at home next week. On Wednesday, September 25th at 4pm, the Oaks will officially begin PacWest Conference play starting with the Sea Lions of Point Loma Nazarene. With a strong core of players and a resilient mindset, Menlo Men's Soccer is poised to continue its development as the season progresses as a NCAA DII program.
