TURLOCK, CA – In a matchup between two nationally ranked programs, #19 Menlo Men's Soccer showed it belongs among the best, going toe-to-toe with #2 Stanislaus State in a non-conference preseason clash on Thursday night. Despite an even statistical battle, the Oaks fell in their first loss of the season by the slimmest of margins, 1-0, at Warrior Stadium.

Top-25 Showdown

• Ranked showdown: No. 19 Menlo and No. 2 Stanislaus State finished even in shots (9), corners (3), and yellow cards (3).

• Tim Schwarz led Menlo with 3 shots, while Johan Mendoza Aguilar and Jose "Chicha" Garcia each fired off 2.

• Giuseppe Sigala and Liam Brittenstam each added 1 shot, with Brittenstam nearly equalizing late in the second half.

• Goalkeeper Martin Fiala anchored the defense, making 4 key saves to keep the Oaks in contention throughout.

Even Fight in Turlock

The Warriors found the lone goal of the match in the 16th minute, capitalizing on their best early chance. Menlo responded with pressure of its own, with Chicha Garcia and Johan Mendoza Aguilar forcing the Warriors' keeper into action during the opening half. Meanwhile, Fiala came up with timely saves to ensure the Oaks entered halftime down just one.

The second half highlighted Menlo's resilience against one of the country's top teams. Tim Schwarz created multiple dangerous looks, while Giuseppe Sigala and Garcia each tested the defense. The closest call came in the 83rd minute, when Liam Brittenstam's strike nearly equalized but was stopped by a diving save. The stat sheet told the story — the #19 Oaks matched the #2 Warriors stride-for-stride, with only one early goal proving the difference.

Up Next

#19 Menlo returns home to Wunderlich Field on Saturday, September 20th at 4:00 p.m. to face the Chico State Wildcats. The match also marks Youth Day, featuring East Palo Alto Charter School (EPACS). Fans are encouraged to bring the whole family out for an action-packed day of soccer and community celebration.