Box Score

The FPU men's soccer team got its most difficult match of the season out of the way right off the bat, falling 4-1 at NCAA D1 San Jose State on Friday. The Sunbirds tied the game 1-1 48 minutes in on a goal from Paul Islas, but the Spartans responded with two quick goals to put the game out of reach.

Coach Jaime Ramirez said SJSU is the most physical team the Sunbirds will play all year and felt his team responded well.

"I thought we played well and really held our own against a very physical team that brought constant pressure," he said. "We hate to lose the way we did, but we had a lot of opportunities. There's a lot we can take from this game and build on. There were good surprises looking at how some of our guys responded and the mistakes we made are very correctable."

The Sunbirds were in unfamiliar territory on Friday, playing on a more narrow field in San Jose and playing on artificial turf against a team that brought a lot of intensity and physicality.

A Spartan goal by Dylan Murphy put SJSU up 1-0 in the 30th minute, but the Sunbirds and goalie Steven Waite would hold them the rest of the half to go into the break with a one-goal deficit. Just over two minutes after halftime, Islas would finally break through the Spartan defense to tie the game with Fabricio Nazare getting the assist.

Just three minutes later though a defensive miscue led to another goal from Murphy and when SJSU's Craig Hertler scored just one minute after that, it really took the wind out of the Sunbirds' sails. The Spartans would add one more in the 67th minute on a goal from Nick Cashmere.

The Spartans out-shot the Sunbirds 20-8, but Waite finished with seven saves for FPU. Islas led the way with four shots and two shots on goal for the Sunbirds.

FPU will head into its home opener on Tuesday night with a more prepared mentality. The Sunbirds host #16 Holy Names at 6 pm, a team that lost to FPU last season but would go on to reach the NAIA Quarterfinals.