ARCATA, CA – Menlo Men's Soccer showed their depth and firepower on Sunday afternoon, controlling the match from start to finish in a 4-1 victory over Cal Poly Humboldt. With relentless energy, strong defensive play, and clinical finishing, the Oaks made it difficult for the Lumberjacks to build any momentum. Menlo will return home looking to continue their offensive terror this upcoming week. 

Oaks Turn Defense into Offense

• Martin Fiala started in goal and set the tone with early saves to keep the game level.

• Jose "Chicha" Garcia scored his first goal of the season (22') off a counterattack led by Tim Schwarz.

• Parker Faeth converted a penalty (44') after Hugo Few drew a foul in the box.

• David Stuber netted his first goal of the year with a header (48') from a Giuseppe Sigala corner.

• Isak Haukefaer scored (50') off a clever build-up with Sigala, who collected his third assist of the season.

• Menlo finished with 17 shots (11 on goal) compared to Humboldt's 7 shots (5 on goal).

Menlo Men's Soccer Storms Arcata with Statement Win

The Oaks struck first in the 22nd minute on a brilliant counterattack that started with goalkeeper Martin Fiala. After punching away a dangerous Humboldt corner and watching his backline clear the ball upfield, Tim Schwarz sprinted the length of the pitch to create a 2-vs-1 situation. He found Chicha Garcia wide open on the back post, where Garcia calmly placed the ball into the net for his first goal of the season.

Menlo doubled their lead just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Hugo Few was fouled while cutting toward the endline in the box. Parker Faeth confidently buried the resulting penalty, giving the Oaks a 2-0 lead. By the break, Menlo had tallied 11 shots (8 on frame), while the Lumberjacks managed just 4 shots, 3 on target. Humboldt held a slight edge in corners (5-4), but Fiala came up big with three key saves to protect the lead.

The Oaks kept their foot on the gas after the break. Just three minutes into the second half, Roy Rosenberg earned a corner that Sigala served perfectly into the box. Stuber rose above the defense and powered in a header for his first of the season. Two minutes later, Menlo's trademark counterattack struck again as Sigala and Isak Haukefaer combined with quick passes through two defenders, freeing Haukefaer to slot home a low finish for his first goal of the year. The Lumberjacks grabbed a late consolation goal in the final seconds, but the Oaks' dominance was never in question.

Menlo outshot Humboldt 17-7 and earned 9 corners to the Lumberjacks' 7. Fiala was steady in goal with four saves, while the Humboldt keeper was forced into six saves under relentless pressure.

Up Next

The Oaks return home to Atherton for a non-conference matchup against the Warriors of Jessup University on Thursday, September 11th. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM at Wunderlich Field. Menlo looks to carry their early-season momentum into another strong performance in front of the home crowd.