The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Soccer

  • Green and gold goes pink

    Green and gold goes pink

    by Vanessa Saltos

    On Oct. 12 women’s soccer had their annual Pink Out game at College Creek Field where they played against Stanislaus State. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and to honor this the Lumberjacks wore pink jerseys sponsored by the Heather Janikowski Foundation. This foundation was started by women’s soccer player Megan Janikowski and her family to honor her mother Heather Janikowski after she passed away from her hard fought battle with cancer. 

    When Megan Janikowski was 10 years old her mother Heather Janikowski was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. Heather Janikowski would move to remission around 2013-2014 but later would find that the cancer spread to her brain in 2018. Sadly in 2021 it spread to her entire body and she passed away Jan. 19, 2022. 

    During her lifespan Heather Janikowski was a mother, physical therapist, P.E. teacher, and preschool teacher. 

    According to the foundation’s website, “Heather loved to support the local farmers markets and small shops as well as advocating for children and animals through a variety of non profit organizations and events.” Megan Janikowski didn’t want her mother to be another name that cancer took so the foundation was born. 

    Photo by Kae Dennert. Breast Cancer awareness table set up outside of the Pinkout game.

    “My mom recently died from brain cancer and she had just been fighting it for a very long time and after she passed away I felt like she left too big of an impact in her community to just be another name that cancer took,” Janikowski said. “So I wanted to make something where she still had an impact and I could help families that were going through what I [had] already been through or [in] need [of] any kind of extra help.”

    Since starting this foundation, they’ve hosted events like a memorial hike, a 5K, and a bowling tournament. Megan Janikowski’s brother Dean Janikowski, a kicker for Washington State football, has also created a ‘pledge it’. A pledge it is when donors pledge a certain amount of money to be donated every time he makes a field goal or point after touchdown. With all these fundraising events they have already impacted lives as well. 

    “The first year we had a hike and the money there went towards a family who could not afford to pay for their daughters college tuition and it was kind of full circle because the girl that we picked she was actually one of my mom’s preschool students, so it was like full circle,” Janikowski said. 

    In January they hosted a 5 and they were able to help a 9-year-old boy named Mateo Yanez who was diagnosed with cancer. His family vehicle and washing machine had broken down. He wasn’t able to get to his doctors appointments and have basic needs but with the help of the Heather Janikowski Foundation, Yanez was able to go to more of his appointments and was accepted into a research development program for his own cancer. Yanez sadly passed away three days after his tenth birthday. 

    Loss is a very real reality when it comes to cancer and Megan Janikowski attributes her strong faith to the reason behind her being here today. What keeps her motivated on the field is her motto “do it for her”; her mother is now her reason why. Megan Janikowski takes her mom on the field with her by wrapping tape on her left wrist and writing “do it for her” on the front and “mom” on the inside. She also has “do it for her” on the tops of her cleats and “fly high” on the back.  

    “On the tops of both my cleats it says ‘do it for her’ and then on the back it says ‘fly high’ because I just think having that constant reminder that life is short and life is fragile, it helps me to appreciate the good and especially the bad times,” Janikowski said.  

    Having visual reminders is something that is needed and third year biology student Jonathan Sweeney appreciates the team for hosting an event like this. 

    “It’s important to have games like this so we can see something visual like the pink jerseys and have a conversation about it…I like that our teams are bringing awareness to stories like mine,” Sweeney said. 

    Sweeney lost his grandmother to lung cancer and has also had family members diagnosed with skin cancer. Third year business administration major Harry Singh has also lost a family member to lung cancer. His older cousin was just 10 years old when he passed away and it was hard for Singh to accept. Singh, being a student-athlete on the track and field team, understands the importance of bringing topics like this into the sports world. 

    “I think it is important that we bring up these topics to games because they allow us to compete for something bigger,” Singh said. 

    The proceeds from this game will be set aside for the women’s soccer team to choose who they want the money from the Heather Janikowski foundation to go to locally. Megan Janikowski is currently double majoring in biology and special education and wants to pursue a masters in the research and development of brain cancer. 

    “I just want to help as many families as I can and my master’s program will be in the research and development of brain cancer so I’m hoping I can aid in something research wise or anything to make an advancement to help find a cure,” Janikowski said.

    Graphic by Vanessa Saltos.
  • Dual-sport athlete, Emilia Long, helps make Humboldt history

    Dual-sport athlete, Emilia Long, helps make Humboldt history

    by Vanessa Saltos

    Torn between two worlds, junior dual-sport athlete Emilia Long came to Cal Poly Humboldt and was able to have her cake and eat it too. Long is from Port Angeles, Washington and has been playing basketball and soccer since she was around 6 years old. She was introduced to the two sports through her older siblings. 

    “My older siblings also played soccer and basketball, and I kind of just followed in their footsteps,” Long said. 

    Before committing to Cal Poly Humboldt, she played at Peninsula College, a junior college in her hometown. During her time at Peninsula, her team won the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships for soccer and she was named North Region Conference Defensive Player of the year for basketball. When taking the next step of transferring, Long’s Peninsula College coaches were in communication with Cal Poly Humboldt’s women’s head soccer coach Grant Landy and women’s head basketball coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. Long shared that she was talking to other colleges as well during her transferring process, but it was mostly about one sport. That’s when it became clear to Long that Humboldt was the place for her.  

    “I think [it] mainly was the opportunity to play both sports, that was a big thing for me, because for me I couldn’t really choose which sport I liked better,” Long said. “At my [junior college], I was able to play both as well, and then from there I just didn’t really know which route I wanted to take. Then when they said that I would be able to play both, that’s when it really caught my eye.”

    What caught both coaches Landy and Bento-Jackson’s eyes was her competitive and hard-working attitude. Landy said that she is a great teammate, very humble and supportive. Bento-Jackson’s response also aligned with this. 

    “Emilia is a terrific addition to our athletic department as a whole. She is such a wonderful person and a great teammate,” Bento-Jackson said. “Anyone and everyone who meets Emilia has nothing but positive things to say about her. She has a very pleasant spirit about her, along with a good balance between being a great competitor and a sweetheart of a person.”

    Photo courtesy of Max Tepper | Cal Poly Humboldt women’s soccer celebrating a goal on Sept. 7.

    Due to it being the fall season, Long is committed to working with the soccer team at the moment and she has already made history during her time there. The team’s mantra is “stay hungry,” and Long emulated exactly that on Sept. 2. It was a homecoming for Long and she was able to make history in front of her family. She scored four goals against Seattle Pacific, being the first Lumberjack in program history to do so. This led the Jack’s to a 4-3 victory over the Falcons – their first ever win against the Falcons – and earned her the title of CCAA Offensive Player of the Week for Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

    “I am really competitive, and I just wanted to win the game, that was all that was in my mind,” Long said. 

    For Long, her approach to the game is to play fast, hard and give 100% effort. Landy further explained that she likes to get to the goal and create chances for other players and herself. With basketball, coach Bento-Jackson expressed that she has the ability to attack the basket and is a strong defender. 

    “She’s tough and always finds a way to get the job done,” Bento-Jackson said. 

    The women’s soccer team is currently undefeated with a record of 5-0-1. When asked what is different about the Jack’s this year, Coach Landy said the chemistry between the team is electric. 

    “The team is gaining more confidence with each other and trusting their teammates. We are deeper this year in all positions,” Landy said. “They have a sharp competitive edge which has shown itself so far in practice and games.”

    Women’s soccer is having their first conference game at home against Sonoma State Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Women’s basketball is listed to start their season on Oct. 29, so once soccer season ends for Long, you will be able to see her in action on the court.

  • Soccer season returns with anticipation

    Soccer season returns with anticipation

    by Jake Knoeller

    Soccer is back at Cal Poly Humboldt. After a long offseason of preparation for both the men’s and women’s teams, they are back for three preseason exhibition matches each. On Aug. 25, the two teams will take to the field for their first official matches of the 2022 fall season. The men’s team will face Northwest Nazarene University at College Creek Field at 3 p.m., while the women’s team will travel to Ramirez Field in Fresno to face Fresno Pacific University. Last season both teams showed a lot of potential, which has led to suspense surrounding the upcoming season. The players themselves are also excited to be back on the field. 

    The men have three senior captains, with no shortage of experience playing under pressure at College Creek or anywhere away from home. Midfielder Devin Hauenstein believes that their team chemistry and togetherness will be a strength this season.

     “Over our captains’ camp, the team was able to connect and build strong relationships with each other so that we’re stronger out here on the field,” Hauenstein said. 

    There is plenty of room to do even better, and defender Dylan Tovani spoke about what he thinks will bring the team up another level. 

    “We need to get on the finishing touches at the end when we’re looking to score more goals. We did pretty well last season with our shutouts and keeping the ball out of the back of our net, but putting more in the back of the other team’s net is gonna benefit us more to win more games and push forward,” Tovani said. 

    The team was close to making the conference tournament last season, and midfielder Motoki Sato is confident that this is their year to do it. 

    “That’s almost an expectation, and if we just continue putting in the work I think we’re gonna be able to achieve it this year,” Sato said. With all their experience, these players know how to get ready for each game and give it their all. 

    The women’s team has a good amount of seniors on their team this year as well, and their leadership has the potential to lead this team to a successful season. Another helpful strength for this team is their depth. According to coach Grant Landy, they have spent preseason trying to figure out the right lineup.

     “A lot of players have played, which is good,” Landy said. “It’s giving us a lot of information moving forward.”

     The team has ideas for what they can do to take that next step and have a great season. Defender Abby Borg gained experience over the past two years and is on the field for her third season with the Jacks. 

    “I think we need to capitalize on when we do win that ball, looking to spread out wide and find those areas where if we’re stuck on the right side, get it to the left side,” Borg said. Borg is returning to the team after being out last season with an injury.

     “My motivation this year is I’m back on the field so I wanna give it my all,” Borg added. While there are returners, there are also some younger players ready for the experience of playing at a college level. Jysabella Tolentino is a freshman from Moorpark, California playing forward this season.

    “I think that here at Humboldt, we have amazing players and we’re off to a pretty good start and I cannot wait for the season ahead,” Tolentino said. 

    Both teams have lots of talent and dedication to the game of soccer, which is important on the field.  The lead up to this season has been exciting. Now that it’s finally going to be here, we’ll see what kind of season the Lumberjacks have in store for everybody.

  • Katelin Talbert goes for the goal

    Katelin Talbert goes for the goal

    • Talbert kicks a ball back into play during the team’s match against Stanislaus State on October 6, 2019. | Photo by Elliott Portillo
    • Jacks senior goalkeeper Katelin Talbert makes a leaping save during the first half of the team’s match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Novmeber 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Katie Talbert at a photoshoot for the California Storm. | Photo courtesy of California Storm
    • Talbert kicks a ball away during a match with the California Storm | Photo courtesy of California Storm

    Former Lumberjack Wildlife Major and Goalkeeper, Katie Talbert spent four years patrolling and defending the nets at College Creek Field and now finds herself with the opportunity of a lifetime: an invitation to preseason training camp with Seattle’s OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Beginning February 1, The trial pits Talbert against some of the best young talent in the nation for a chance to play at the sport’s highest level domestically.

     

    “I’m just so excited to be able to train with professional soccer players,” Talbert said in an exclusive interview. “It’s just taking one more step higher in the competition that I’m not used to and I’m super ready for the challenge.”

     

    Soccer comes naturally to Talbert, who started playing at age four. At age 11, she played competitively, alternating between field and part-time goal keeper. When she was 14, her club team converted her to a full-time goal keeper because there were no other players at the position.

     

    “I started playing and I just picked it up really fast, and so they were like, ‘oh you’re good at this, we’re just gonna keep you at goalkeeper,’” Talbert said. “I was a fast learner on how to play that position.”

     

    “And then I just kept playing,” Talbert said. “I just enjoyed it because I like throwing my body in the air…which is fun.”

     

    The position change helped the Sacramento native accomplish another one of her childhood goals: to play soccer at the collegiate level. After decommitting from Sonoma State her junior year of high school, Talbert found Humboldt as the place she wanted to be.

     

    “I’ve always wanted to play college soccer,” Talbert said. “I contacted them [Humboldt] because they had a wildlife major and I always wanted to be a wildlife major from when I was a little kid.”

     

    While at Humboldt, Talbert proved crucial as a defensive specialist, earning all-CCAA honorable mention honors in 2017. Her height, athleticism and fearlessness proved to be vital assets on the field.

     

    During the off-season, she trained and played with the Sacramento-based California Storm of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). The semi-professional team, which boasts distinguished and accomplished alumni such as USWNT member Alex Morgan, gave Talbert another opportunity to improve her skills.

     

    “Every summer I’d go home and play with them, and I found that team has helped me a lot [to] get better,” Talbert said. “A lot of the girls on the team are ex-pros or DI [Division I] college girls, so I think that’s been a level up in competition.”

     

    Storm Head Coach and Executive Director Jamie Levoy, who has known and coached Talbert the past four summers, feels that she has all the tools necessary to be successful at the next level.

     

    “She’s versatile,” said Levoy. “She knows how to read the game beyond the goal keeper. She makes fearless decisions.”

     

    As one of the few invitees to come from a small Division II school, Talbert noted that there is a bit of a chip on her shoulder going up against women from a variety of esteemed universities.

     

    “I’m pretty sure most if not all of the other girls coming in for the preseason and trials are all from DI schools,” Talbert said. “I really feel like I’m kind of like the kid coming in in a way.”

     

    Despite that, Talbert feels her time at Humboldt and the competition she faced there have also prepared her for this moment.

     

    “It [Humboldt] gave me a great opportunity,” Talbert said. “A lot of my friends who I played soccer with competitively were committing to DI schools, and then I committed to a DII school, so nobody really thought that it would be great competition, but the fact that we are in one of the tougher DII leagues for soccer definitely helped my career a lot.”

     

    “There’s an expectation,” Levoy said. “That’s what a lot of people look at: ‘did you play for a top 25 program?’ I think it’s cool she can go in and say, ‘look, you don’t have to play at the biggest school.’”

     

    For Talbert, she believes the opportunity ahead sets her up for success later.

     

    “I had an offer from a team in Portugal that I turned down to come to this try-out because I thought this would be a better opportunity for me to continue playing in the NWSL or other opportunities to come in the future,” Talbert said. “My main end goal if I can is to possibly play for the Sacramento NWSL team whenever that happens, which I heard might happen in 2022.”

     

    Whatever happens, Levoy believes Talbert is set to succeed.

     

    “Honestly, she’s so deserving and she’s a great athlete,” Levoy said. “Everything is falling into place for her.”

     

  • The Failure of U.S Soccer

    The Failure of U.S Soccer

    The United States men’s national team has not made much progress since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup

    The lowest moment in recent history for the United States men’s national soccer team was on the night of Oct. 10, 2018, on a rain-soaked pitch in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

    The U.S. was on the cusp of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and only needed a draw against the Trinidad and Tobago national team, who were dead last in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football qualifying standings and had not won in their last nine matches.

    Even if the U.S. were to lose this game, a failsafe existed in the form of either Mexico or Costa Rica winning their respective game, which would send the U.S. to their eighth straight World Cup. It seemed like a sure thing.

    On that fateful night, everything that could have possibly gone wrong for the U.S. men’s national team went haywire.

    I believe it was one of the worst moments in American sports history.

    An own goal that was deflected off the leg of U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez somehow found its way past goalkeeper Tim Howard in minute 17. Trinidad would add another goal in minute 37, and while the Americans would add a goal late, it would not be enough.

    The United States lost 2-1 to the worst team in the final round of qualifying. To make matters worse, Mexico and Costa Rica, who were two of the best teams in the region, managed to lose both of their matches. For the first time since 1986, the United States would not be in the World Cup. To say this was an embarrassment would be an understatement.

    I believe it was one of the worst moments in American sports history. For the United States to fail to get a tie against a team that was 1-8 previously in qualifying was a national embarrassment. Missing out on the World Cup would deal a massive blow to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

    Fans across the U.S. would miss out on seeing their national team play on the world’s biggest stage, and subsequently, the up-and-coming players on the national team would miss out on a valuable experience that would strengthen their development. To make things even worse, qualifying for the next World Cup does not begin until 2021, leaving us a long time to think about what happened.

    Since then, the U.S. Soccer Federation has fired their head coach, Bruce Arena, and after many months of interim coaches at the helm, Gregg Berhalter was selected to lead the long journey back to the next World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. Many of the players that were a part of the 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads are now gone, leaving a lot of young and talented but unproven players to develop at the international level.

    A lot of the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was years in the making. The U.S. had an aging roster of players that were on the back end of their international careers. Players like Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, who were a huge part of past World Cups, were just not producing at the same level as in the past.

    Now that the U.S. has an almost entirely different roster, it looks like the team has no sense of direction. An embarrassing loss to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League in October highlighted the fact that the U.S. still has a long way to go to reach the next World Cup. The U.S. roster is currently highlighted by budding superstar Christian Pulisic, who is the best scorer for the team and plays club soccer for Chelsea in one of the top soccer leagues in the world. Other than Pulisic, the U.S. roster is a rotating door of names.

    If the U.S. has issues competing with teams on our own continent, then being able to someday compete with the top European or South American nations is going to be a daunting task.

    It all comes down to a complete lack of talent within the U.S. Soccer Federation. One problem is finding talent and developing it, but the main problem is dual-national players committing to other nations. If you’re a young player and you have the choice of playing for the United States or Mexico, right now I would bet that player is going to choose Mexico.

    While the men’s team is trying to find their identity on the field, I would like to shout out the U.S. Women’s National Team for winning two straight World Cups and continuing to make this country proud. They are setting an example for how American soccer should be played and I look forward to their continued success.

  • Men’s Soccer Finishes Season With an Emotional Senior Day

    Men’s Soccer Finishes Season With an Emotional Senior Day

    Jacks defeat Dominguez Hills by two goals, but fall to Cal State LA

    The Humboldt State University men’s soccer season concluded over the weekend and honored senior players at College Creek Field.

    It was an emotional ending to another season of Jacks’ soccer as the final two games yielded different results. On Thursday, the men’s team beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-1 with two goals from the Jacks leading scorer Isaiah Dairo. He scored the game-winner in the final minute.

    Saturday’s matchup against Cal State Los Angeles was held on Senior Day, and for athletes Robert Quintero, Rudi McClellan, Isaiah Dairo, Israel Gonzalez and Gus Baxter it was their last game as a Lumberjack.

    A ceremony commenced before the game, with senior players taking photos with their families and Head Coach Fred Jungemann. For some players like Isaiah Dairo, their last game had an impact on them.

    • Senior Isaiah Dairo moves the ball up the left wing for the Jacks during their match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Senior midfielder Rudi McClellan moves the ball up the field for Humboldt State during their match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State’s Marco Silveira attempts to play the ball during the first half of the Jacks’ match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    “Having my family here motivated me,” Dairo said. “They don’t get to see a lot of games that I play and for them to see these last two games of my college career was special.”

    The Jacks fell to Cal State LA 2-1. The lonesome goal came from Dairo, but it was not enough to help the Jacks come back from a point deficit.

    “I had tears in my eyes when the final whistle blew because I looked over to my family, and they were clapping and filled with joy,” Dairo said.

    In the first half, the Jacks and the Golden Eagles were off to a competitive start. After a 20-minute scuffle for possession, Cal State LA slipped one through HSU’s defense giving them an early 1-0 lead.

    Two minutes later, Jacks’ midfielder Israel Gonzalez connected a pass to Dairo, which he finished in the Golden Eagles’ net.

    Senior Israel Gonzalez battles for the ball during the Jacks’ match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    HSU goalkeeper Robert Quintero kept his composure throughout the first half and made drastic saves.

    “In the first half I remember the pile of players fighting to score and me stretching out my hand to prevent the ball from crossing the line,” Quintero said.

    With ten minutes left in the first half, the Golden Eagles were able to score another goal on the Jacks. With the Jacks now trailing, Jungemann felt it was a response for his players showing a pulse in the fight.

    “Our goal reminded them we had a fight in us,” Jungemann said. “So they started to take us more serious, and they certainly did what they wanted to do, but our players held their ground.”

    Going into the second half, the Jacks and Golden Eagles fought hard to overcome the opponents’ strategies, but both teams were unable to add any points to the board.

    Humboldt State senior Gus Baxter soaks in the moment after his final game as a Lumberjack against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    “This day is part of our lives every year and it doesn’t get easier,” Jungemann said. “It’s always a difficult and emotional day. The graduating players gave five years of their life to an organization that they had fun being apart of and now await the challenges ahead.”

    Dairo is saddened that his time with Jacks’ soccer is over, but his sights are set for furthering his career.

    ”It’s memorable knowing that this is another start in a journey for my life,” Dairo said. “It’s not the end of the road for anybody, you can always get better and in time I hope to play professionally.”

  • Overtime Goal Sends Jacks Past Gators

    Overtime Goal Sends Jacks Past Gators

    Humboldt State women’s soccer beat San Francisco State in overtime

    After experiencing a rough patch in last weekend’s Southern California matches, the Jacks focused on rejuvenating their strategies against San Francisco State.

    In the first half, SF State fought hard for ball possession, creating shot opportunities that were met with resistance from Jacks’ goalkeeper Katelin Talbert.

    Midfielder Lindsey Stoner broke through and took a shot on goal, but a slide save by San Francisco player Illiana Gallegos deflected the effort. Shortly after, the Jacks were presented with a second shot attempt by midfielder Sabine Postma, but the crossbar above the net deflected the ball.

    The pressure put on SF’s offense forced them to shoot the ball during untimely situations. Although HSU had fewer shots during the first half, the up-close-and-personal tactics from the Jacks created an uneasy atmosphere that made it difficult for SF to focus.

    Lindsay Stoner battles the SF State defender at the edge of the penalty area. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The first period concluded with an impressive show of speed as both teams made a final push to add a point on the board. The second period saw a shift in strategy for SF as they began the period with an immediate shot on goal, which was quickly met with a save by Talbert.

    The Jacks found themselves in another overtime scenario, and the team gathered around Head Coach Paul Karver to discuss their strategy. After the time-out, Stoner was back on possession and broke through for a scoring chance. She was thwarted, but moments later would return with the help of Pikake Hix to score the game-winning goal.

    After the excitement settled down and players cleared the field, Talbert spoke on the team’s ability to remain calm and play steady.

    “When they play the ball back to me the other team doesn’t press as hard,” Talbert said. “It helps since our players are already on edge and need some time to focus.”

    Lindsay Stoner reflected on her teams’ effective offense strategies, which helped the Jacks secure a much-needed overtime win over SF.

    • #7 Rose Harman shields the SF State defender from the ball. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Pikake Hix chases after the ball during the game against SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Kelsey Bess tries to draw the foul from #5 Kelsie Bozart. | Photo by Liam Warner

    “We made them nervous,” Stoner said. “We kept attacking them and kept them on their toes because we knew we needed this goal and we were inspired to win it.”

    Stoner produced six shots against SF and stayed consistent with keeping the rhythm going.

    The focus for now is the upcoming weekend as HSU squares off against Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles. Karver expects the opponents to be resilient towards the Jacks as their quest to secure points continues.

    “These are teams with two very polarizing styles of play, not the prettiest of football since there will be a lot of fouls and awkward emotion afterwards,” Karver said. “We got the points we needed today, and now we gotta get six more next weekend, but it’s one game at a time, and we’re really excited to have the opportunity.”

    Two games remain and the Jacks look forward to getting more points before the end of the season. This weekend the Jacks will host Dominguez Hills and Cal-State LA for afternoon games at College Creek Field.

    • Lindsay Stoner brings the ball up the field with an SF State player trailing. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Jacks’ midfielder Kelsey Bess is fouled from behind by an SF State player. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Kelsey Bess goes stride-for-stride with #19 Katelyn Patterson of SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Kelsey Bess corrals the ball at her feet during the game against SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • #4 Kendal Spencer holds off SF State defender #7 Kylie Schneider. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • #22 Pikake Hix celebrates with her teammates after the overtime victory. | Photo by Liam Warner
  • HSU Women’s Soccer Wins in Overtime

    HSU Women’s Soccer Wins in Overtime

    Jacks take second match win in doubleheader after falling to Cal State East Bay in the first game

    Humboldt State women’s soccer hosted a doubleheader over the weekend against Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay. Game one resulted in a loss against East Bay, but the Jacks were able to secure a win against Monterey Bay in overtime.

    An early set of goals by East Bay prevented the Jacks from getting on the scoreboard until the last few minutes when redshirt senior midfielder Pikake Hix scored. However, the Jacks did not find another opportunity to score throughout and lost 1-2.

    During their match against Monterey Bay, the Jacks were off to a fast start and constantly found players down the field. With the absence of the ball in their zone, HSU goalkeeper Katelin Talbert, and the defense, found control and settled the flow of the game.

    “They weren’t pressing our backline as much as other teams so we were able to play more in the back,” Talbert said. “It was a lot easier to relax and get everyone calm.”

    Consistency from both teams didn’t let up as the first half winded down. Monterey Bay attempted a shot at goal with eleven minutes left, but Talbert slid and blocked the oncoming shot resulting in a recovery of the ball.

    The horn sounded off to signal the end of the first half, and the Jacks did not show any signs of wear. Within ten minutes into the second half, the Jacks set up for another shot on goal but it went over the net. Traffic in the Jack’s zone accumulated and resulted in a goal, but it was ruled offsides and the game remained scoreless.

    HSU played Cal State Monterey Bay at College Creek Field and beat the Otters in overtime 1-0. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The pressure put on by the Jacks’ offensive tactics were beginning to create disarray in the final minutes of the second half which resulted in Monterey Bay receiving a yellow card.

    Conclusion of the second half and a scoreless game resulted in the Jacks going into overtime. When both teams can’t score in two ten minute periods, then the game ends in a tie.

    As overtime began, Jacks players began maneuvering the ball down to Monterey Bay’s zone. A quick play set up by midfielder Kelsey Bess resulted in Kendal Spencer scoring the game-winning goal, and ending the match with the 1-0 Jacks win.

    After the match, Spencer mentioned that she has been out with an injury for the last three weeks and returned this weekend ready to play.

    “We needed this win to set the tone,” Spencer said. “This is my first weekend back from being injured for 3 weeks. I was really fired up and wanted to come out.”

    Jacks’ soccer will hit the road this weekend to face Cal Poly and Cal State San Bernardino. With the season winding down, Coach Paul Karver is focused on his players finishing the season strong.

    “Right now we’re focused on going down there and getting points out of the games that are left on the table,” Karver said.

  • Strong Defense Shakes Jacks’ Gameplay

    Strong Defense Shakes Jacks’ Gameplay

    Men’s soccer struggles against Cal State Monterey Bay

    The Humboldt State men’s soccer team lost to Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday, dropping the match 1-2. Despite the loss, the Jacks outshot Monterey 16-6 and held a majority of the possession throughout the second half. Humboldt is now 2-5 in conference play, which puts them at No. 11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings.

    The first half snuck away from the Jacks as CSUMB scored a goal on junior goalkeeper Tab Heinz just under seven minutes into the match.

    Humboldt was unable to respond as Monterey consistently pressured with a high defensive line and controlled offensive possession. Despite being able to make offensive pushes in the first 25 minutes, the Jacks were unable to establish themselves in the attacking area for a significant amount of time. It wasn’t long before Monterey scored again, keeping their lead with a new score of 2-0.

    Humboldt State forward Isaiah Dairo battles for the ball while pressing into the offensive zone during the Jacks’ match against Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 20 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    On the offensive side, Isaiah Dairo provided the spark needed to the Jacks on the board. Throughout the match Dairo constantly drove the play along the right wing as well as in Monterey’s goal box.

    Senior defender Gus Baxter stepped up to take the kick for the Jacks and didn’t hesitate, striking it past CSUMB’s goalkeeper Daniel Lomeli to score his fifth goal of the season. With the score now 2-1, the Jacks’ offense seemed reinvigorated and pushed Monterey hard until the end of the half.

    In the second half, Humboldt’s offense outshot CSUMB 13-2 and took four corner kicks but didn’t have any luck finding the back of the net. Monterey managed the clock very well, playing a possession focused game and continuing to challenge the Jacks.

    Humboldt State midfielder Dylan Tovani looks to cross the ball during the first half of the Jacks’ game against Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 20 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    The pacing of the half was slow as both teams committed nine fouls, but neither of them were able to capitalize on the reoccurring opportunity. This was a trend throughout the match as Monterey committed 22 fouls in total and Humboldt committed 12.

    Humboldt State defender Martin Calderon was confident in the defensive side of the Jacks’ game even after the loss.

    “The last few games have been pretty solid on the back,” Calderon said. “I think it’s just been the little mistakes that have cost us the games. Last game we gave up two headers, this game it was just a deflection that we kind of messed up and the other teams don’t let those goals go.”

    Head Coach Fred Jungemann was disappointed to not come out of the match with a win but saw positives from the Jacks’ offensive opportunities that they were able to generate.

    “I think even before the penalty kick our guys kind of regrouped and managed the game really well,” Jungemann said. “The last 75 minutes of the game we dominated, played the game we wanted to play. We created chances, just couldn’t hit the back of the net.”

    Humboldt State goalkeeper Tab Heinz jumps into the air in an effort to stop what would end up being the game winning goal during the first half of the Jacks’ game against Cal State Monterey Bay at College Creek FIeld. | Photo by Thomas Lal
  • HSU Shuts Out Stanislaus State

    HSU Shuts Out Stanislaus State

    Humboldt State capitalizes on strong offense and outstanding defense to defeat Warriors

    Coming into Sunday’s match, the men’s soccer team had dropped an agonizing match to Chico State, setting the stage for a dominant game against the visiting Stanislaus State Warriors.

    Humboldt showed up strong for the home crowd, exhibiting their goal-scoring prowess by netting three. Meanwhile, Stanislaus was unable to make a mark on the scoresheet. With 24 goals on the season, the Jacks now average three goals a game and play with the defense to back up the scoring.

    The first half of the match saw fairly even play between the two teams, with both sides rushing forward to test the defenses. The Jacks’ defense allowed six shots in the first half but goalkeeper Robert Quintero stood tall in net, making three saves early on to hold the Warriors scoreless. On the offensive end of things, the Jacks failed to capitalize on a few free and seemed unable to sustain pressure in Stanislaus’ defensive zone putting just 5 shots on the board with all sailing wide of the mark.

    • Freshman midfielder Nicolas Falco leaps into his waiting teammates as he celebrates his first goal in CCAA competetion for Humboldt State against Stanislaus to make the score 2-0 during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State midfielder/forward Angel Rodriguez (14) and mid fielder Israel Gonzalez (10) go to work on a set play from the corner kick during their match against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • HSU midfielder Dylan Tovani throws the ball in during the team’s match against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field as the home crowd watches on. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    The second half of the contest saw a much more aggressive start from Humboldt State, who were immediately making deep runs into the Stanislaus side of the pitch. It wasn’t just the offense who came out looking assertive however, with Quintero coming out of the net to make a perfectly-timed tackle in the middle of the Warrior’s attack. With confidence in the defense’s ability, Jacks’ forward, Isaiah Dairo, found the back of the goal just 10 minutes into the half to score his team-leading sixth goal of the season and put Humboldt up 1-0.

    The scoring would not stop there. Freshman midfielder, Nicolas Falco, buried the first goal of his college career into the top of the Warrior’s net only 15 minutes later. Following his goal, Falco made a beeline to the Jacks’ sideline jumping into a sea of his teammates all clearly ecstatic to him get on the board.

    With a 2-0 score in their favor, Humboldt State eased back just a bit on the offensive front, focusing on making safe plays in the interest of protecting the lead. Even with a more defensive approach for the final stages of the game, Jacks’ midfielder/forward Devin Hauenstein chipped the ball over Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus to score the home team’s third and final goal of the match.

    • Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein gestures to the hear the crowd cheer louder after scoring the Jacks’ third and final goal of their 3-0 shutout against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein watches as his shot that cleared Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus’ head goes into the goal during the second half to score the final goal of the day for the Jacks in a 3-0 shutout on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field.
    • Humboldt State sophomore Devin Hauenstein is fouled by Stanislaus defenseman Carlos Amaya during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Forward Isaiah Dairo challenges Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus during the second half as Motzkus tries to clear the ball during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State forward Isaiah Dairo squares up to the net before scoring the Jacks’ first goal of the game on the way to a 3-0 shutout against Stanislaus during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Following his shutout performance for the Jacks, Quintero was very positive, noting that it was a strong overall performance from the team which led to their success.

    “The last few games we really stepped up defensively,” Quintero said. “Today we just put it all together. Everyone stepped up, we had each other’s back on the defensive end. No goals, so that’s always good to get a shutout.”

    Head Coach Fred Jungemann was also impressed with Quintero’s performance in goal and the confidence that it brought to the whole defensive line.

    “Rob’s a senior leader for us and he’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Jungemann said. “When he plays like he did today, he gives the defense so much confidence and self-belief. He’s a big part of everything we’re doing back there, and I’m really happy for them to get the shutout the way they played and, obviously, Rob was a big part of that.”

    Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein battles for the ball with Stanislaus defenseman Adolfo Maldonado during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | | Photo by Thomas Lal

    With the win on Sunday, the Jacks moved to 5-3 this season and were able to put Friday’s loss behind them in resounding fashion. Jungemann was happy to have picked up the second game but still saw room for improvement from the weekend as a whole.

    “I don’t think we can ever get past losing some points,” Jungemann said. “But certainly winning points today will give us a good taste in our mouths and hopefully give us something to build towards for next weekend.”

  • HSU Athletics Sept. 10 Press Conference Breakdown

    HSU Athletics Sept. 10 Press Conference Breakdown

    Cross country dominated at home, volleyball won two of three games and soccer had mixed results

    The Humboldt State men’s and women’s cross country teams stood out at the Baywood Golf and Country Club on Sept. 6, while women’s soccer lost on the road and men’s soccer started the season with a 1-1 record. The volleyball team won two out of their three games at the Toro Classic in Carson, CA.

    The HSU cross country team performed well in front of the home crowd as they walked away with sweeping wins in men’s and women’s competition. Senior Daniel Tull took first place for the Lumberjack men, and freshman Hannah Hartwell nabbed first place for the HSU women.

    The HSU volleyball team lost their first match in Carson against Cal St. Dominguez Hills (3-0), but were able to bounce back with sequential wins against Academy of Art (3-0) and Notre Dame De Namur (3-2).

    Women’s soccer went 0-1-1 on their Bay Area road trip, losing to Academy of Art (2-0) and tying against Notre Dame De Namur (1-1). Men’s soccer was able to go 1-1 on their San Rafael road trip, pulling off a comeback win against Dominican (4-3) in overtime and falling to Holy Names (3-2).

    At the Sept. 10 HSU Athletics press conference, each coach and player from their respective sport spoke on their team’s performance and looked ahead to upcoming matches.

    Cross Country

    Head Coach Jamey Harris was ecstatic about his team’s performance in front of the home crowd at Baywood, and it helped that the Jacks had a supportive home crowd behind them. Harris noted the fact that HSU President Tom Jackson was in attendance, along with several members of the local running community.

    “I couldn’t have asked for the season to start any better,” Harris said. “This was sort of an early-season meet just to see where we are at as we go into more specific training.”

    Harris also talked about how important it was to the team that the community came out to support and noted how it works both ways, with the team also wanting to contribute back to the community.

    “It shows our runners that the community cares and that the campus cares,” Harris said. “It helps them see the value in investing their time in the community, and it becomes a great cooperative relationship that way.”

    The cross country team has a little more than a week to train and prepare before they make their way up to Monmouth, Oregon for the Sundowner Invitational on Sept. 20.

    Volleyball

    Head Coach Kelly Wood was happy about the Jacks bouncing back after losing the first match against Dominguez Hills. Wood talked about the unforced errors that the team made, but also acknowledged that the season had just started.

    “We absolutely looked like a team playing its very first match of the season against Dominguez Hills that first night,” Wood said. “We made 36 hitting errors. That’s an insane amount of hitting errors, and that’s a recipe for disaster.”

    Despite a rough first match, the Jacks were able to steal wins against their next two opponents at the Toro Classic. According to junior outside hitter Lexi Riggs who had the second-most kills during the classic with 37, the group raised their energy level for those next two matches.

    “Everybody stepped up,” Riggs said. “Every single person on the team stepped up and got themselves going. I think what turned it around for us was the energy.”

    The volleyball team will travel to the West Region Showcase in San Francisco for matches Sept. 12-14.

    Men’s Soccer

    The Jacks had a mixed weekend against Dominican and Holy Names, but the win against Dominican was a season opener that many on the team won’t forget anytime soon.

    Going into the 53rd minute, the Jacks trailed 3-1. They were able to score twice and force overtime, and then defender Gus Baxter drew a foul in the penalty box and buried the game-winning goal to complete the comeback.

    Baxter gave credit to his teammates for putting him in the position to draw the game-winning penalty. He gave credit to Dalton Rice for his two clutch goals, one in the first and one in the second half of the game.

    “There were a couple of good passes around the box and then all of a sudden the ball is at my feet,” Baxter said. “I shoot, and it hits the guys hand. I took a deep breath, stepped up to it and buried it.”

    The Jacks will get on a plane early Thursday morning and head to Billings, Montana this weekend where they will play Montana State University at Billings and the University of Mary.

    Women’s Soccer

    The Jacks weren’t able to get a win on their road trip, but they did get the tie in a hard-fought game against Notre Dame De Namur. Despite the results, Head Coach Paul Karver was able to see early-season improvements in the team.

    “I think we saw a lot of the hard work that was put in over the offseason,” Karver said. “Going 2-0 would be super fun, but in a weird way, I’ll take where we’re at. The lessons we learned were really important, and that is what the preseason is all about.”

    The Jacks will travel up to Karver’s hometown of Portland, Oregon this weekend for matches against Concordia and Saint Martin’s.

  • Women’s soccer alumni game

    Women’s soccer alumni game

    Annual alumni women’s game finishes at 2-0, brings battle of the ages

  • Soccer preseason prep

    Soccer preseason prep

    A win and a loss for the Jacks

    For the past few weeks, Humboldt States men’s soccer team has been preparing for the upcoming season in the fall.

    Between practicing three times a week, and competing in various scrimmages against other division 2 universities in northern California schools, the Jacks have shown tremendous dedication to make this season even better than the last.

    The team as a whole has many goals and aspirations they want to accomplish in the upcoming year.

    HSU forward Isaiah Dairo, said that the team wants to work on having one mindset as a team.

    “It’s one of the hardest things in a team sport,” Dairo said. “We’re definitely moving towards that goal, and I admire that a lot.”

    soccerpreseason4.jpg
    Photo by Amanda Schultz

    Over the past weekend, Humboldt State competed in two scrimmages against Sonoma State University and Mendocino Community College.

    The Lumberjacks finished the weekend with a 3-1 loss against Sonoma State and a 3-0 win against Mendocino. After struggling to maintain possession of the ball against Sonoma, the team decided to switch up their gameplay going into their second game.

    HSU defender, Martin Calderon said that coming into the second game, the defense tried to possess more in the back.

    “We tried to do less long balls and instead find our midfielders,” Calderon said. “Overall we just tried to possess more.”

    soccerpreseason5.jpg
    Marco Silveira attempts shot at goal. | Photo by Amanda Schultz

    Though the team has many goals set for this upcoming season, many of the athletes have personal goals they also want to accomplish in the fall.

    Some players saw the field for the first time this season as they were redshirted as a freshman, and others will be playing in their last season as a college athlete.

    Coming into the next season as a senior, Dairo has a couple of things he wants to improve on.

    “I want to go play overseas, so it’s a lot of competition with myself,” Dairo said. “I want to focus on the smaller aspects of the game. The little things are very important due to the fact that other teams can capitalize on that.”

    soccerpreseason2 - Copy.jpg
    Jordon Bruton running towards the opponents goal. | Photo by Amanda Schultz

    During the summer, the team takes two months off where they follow strict workouts and diets to stay in shape while they are away. Then, the athletes return to Humboldt a month early to finish preparing for the fall season.

    Team captain Robert Quintero said he just wants to have the best season the program has had in history.

    “I want to make an impact on the program that’s going to last,” Quintero said.

    Soccerpreseason.jpg
    Photo by Amanda Schultz

    Humboldt State men’s soccer team is working hard towards having a successful season and possibly even making playoffs. The season starts at the beginning of the fall semester, and home games are welcome to all guests at College Creek Field.

  • Jacks head their way to victory

    Jacks head their way to victory

    Lumberjacks men’s soccer celebrated after a 2-1 victory against Cal State Monterey Bay in its second to last game at College Creek Field Oct. 25.

    The majority of the second half was tied up at one until forward Isaiah Dairo sent a header straight into the net at minute 86:13 as the Monterey goalie trailed behind.

    “As I was going for the header I had no energy left,” said Dairo. “The people who gave me energy was my team and I’m very thankful for that.”

    HSU started off strong while Monterey’s offense pressured the Jacks in the first half. HSU’s offense continually fired shots at goal. Jacks junior defender Dalton Rice scored the first goal of the game early on at the 11:37 minute.

    The Jacks defense fought hard throughout the rest of the first half keeping the Otter’s off the scoreboard until the 33rd minute.

    “In the first half we played really well,” sophomore midfielder Marco Silveira said. “We dominated the first 15 minutes. We kind of slowed down a bit and they scored, then we picked it back up.”

    Going into the second half, the Jacks focused on pressuring Monterey while creating opportunities on the field for plays. Both teams took several shots on goal, testing each other’s defense. The Otter’s continued to fight back but were unable to put another one in the net.

    The Jacks will continue preparing for their game against Cal State East Bay on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m, as this will be the last game for many of the seniors.

    “We’re going to come out strong for our seniors,” said sophomore midfielder Chico Cortes. “We want them to leave on a good note.”

     

  • Jacks soccer showcases talented group of recruits for 2018

    Jacks soccer showcases talented group of recruits for 2018

    National Signing Day is the day aspiring college athletes impatiently wait for, which is usually the first Wednesday of every February.

    The Lady Jacks will be losing three seniors for the 2018 fall season, but gain nine after welcoming talented recruits to the Lumberjack’s women’s soccer team on Feb. 7.

    These student athletes are from all over the West Coast, but will join in Arcata for summer practice weeks before the fall semester begins.

    Head coach Paul Karver and assistant coach Katerina Heppe spent more time than usual when recruiting this incoming class. He discovered defenders in Oregon and small towns in California, as well as offensive players from Washington and Central California.

    Kaleigh Alves from Hidden Valley Lake, California played two years at Santa Rosa Junior College before committing to Humboldt State.

    Poppy Cartledge from Las Vegas attends Arbor View High School and is known for her midfield accomplishments.

    Tana Eri from Boring, Oregon attends Sandy High and plans to play defense with the Jacks.

    Jacquelyne Kittredge from Roseville, California attended Folsom Lake College for two years before committing to HSU.

    Isabela Meza from Valley Springs, California attended San Joaquin Delta College for two years before coming to HSU.

    Mia Ontiveros from Bakersfield, California attends Independence High School. She is slated to play the forward position.

    Kendall Rooney from Happy Valley, Oregon attends Clackamas High School and will be playing goalkeeper in the fall.

    Jackie Seidel from Huntington Beach, California attends Calvary Chapel High and will be joining the Jacks as a defender.

    Kendal Spencer from Vancouver, Washington attends Prairie High. Though receiving a defensive player of the year award, she will be joining the Jacks as an offensive player.

    Every year, thousands of student athletes commit to their school of choice after receiving offers to play the sport they most excel at.

    These incoming Lady Jacks get the chance to compete in soccer at an intercollegiate level. It is safe to say there are some proud parents and young ladies in the Jackmosphere!

     

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Women’s Soccer

    Humboldt State improved its record to 4-3-1 with a dominant victory in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Benedictine at Mesa.

    “I think that Benedictine was well-organized and came out high energy, and our girls did a really good job of absorbing that energy by possessing the ball,” said Head Coach Paul Karver.

    Erin Siegal, Jacquelyn Dompier, Rose Harman and Lindsay Stoner all scored for the Jacks.

    The Jacks will return to CCAA action against Chico State at home on Friday at 12:30 p.m. and follow that with a Sunday, 11:30 a.m. contest versus Stanislaus State also at College Creek Field.

    IMG-0653.JPG

    Men’s Soccer

    Humboldt State improved to 6-1 with a late penalty kick from Mumbi Kwesele to defeat Sonoma State Seawolves 3-2, at College Creek field Sunday afternoon.

    Freshman Ethan Waters put the Jacks up 2-0 with two goals before the five minute mark.

    The team, now 3-0 in conference play, will next turn its attention to home contests this weekend with Chico State, Friday at 3 p.m., and Stanislaus State, Sunday at 2 p.m.

    Webber Run SFU 17.jpg
    Robbert Webber Running versus Simon Frazier. | Thomas Allie

    Football

    The Jacks overcame a 21 point deficit to beat Western Oregon in overtime, 49-48. Senior running back, Ja’quan Gardner finished with 25 carries for 176-yards and two rushing touchdowns. Quarterback, Robert Webber, the reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week, passed for 334-yards, five touchdowns. Junior receiver, John Todd, led Humboldt State receivers with 225 yards on seven catches and had three touchdowns in the teams 49-48 overtime win at Western Oregon. His 90-yard touchdown reception is the second longest play in school history. Todd’s 225 receiving yards is the second-best single game performance in HSU history. For the third consecutive week, a Humboldt State football player earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. John Todd received this week’s award winner after leading the Lumberjacks to a come-from-behind victory. Three weeks into the 2017 campaign Todd ranks second in the GNAC averaging 113.7 receiving yards per game.

     

  • Lumberjack Classic a success for the Jacks

    Lumberjack Classic a success for the Jacks

    Humboldt State University’s Women’s Soccer team kicked of it’s season with two impressive wins against Fresno Pacific and Colorado Mesa to end up 2-0 at the Lumberjack Classic.

    Saturday against Fresno Pacific, HSU got a steady dose of Alex Jenkins. Jenkins, a junior, scored two goals. The first goal came at 30:32 and the second at 89:23.

    “Sometimes when you have the fastest girl in Californa running around, sometimes you’ll score goals,” Said Head Coach Paul Karver.

    Jenkins led the Lumberjacks in points a season ago, and was the team’s second leading goal scorer from a season ago. She already has half as many goals in the first two games this year as she did last season.

    “Focusing and calming my nerves helped me before the game,” said Jenkins. “The one thing I can control is my work rate, after everything will follow.”

    6N5A9724.JPG
    Junior Forward Alex Jenkins runs with the ball | Thomas Allie

    Defensively the Lumberjacks pitched a shutout. Humboldt State goalkeeper, Sophomore Katelin Talbert recorded nine saves on the day, as the team outshot the Sunbirds 11-10.

    Helping patrol the back line was one of the four seniors on this years team, McCall Madriago.

    “We have a lot of intelligence on this team,” said Madriago. “You can definitely see out there we are comfortable and we trust each other.”

    Coming off of a four win season. The Lumberjacks can only improve. With only five new players this season. The team brings back experience that’s guaranteed to help this year.

    “The second game of a weekend tournament is always about guts and determination,” said Karver. “We put ourselves in some bad situations, our back line came up huge with a shutout.”

    In its first regular season game of the year. The Lumberjacks got a 2-1 win over Colorado Mesa from a late goal by Myriah Epino that capped the victory.

    Freshman, Sabine Postma, scored the first goal of the season for HSU.

    In his first three years as head coach, Karver had seen steady improvement in each of his teams. Topping his totals for wins each year until last. He hopes to make a significant jump this year.

    “We scheduled these games knowing we’d have great competition,” said Karver. “For us to come out of this week 2-0 is fantastic.”

    The maturity and the progress the players have made is what have Karver excited for a rebound season for HSU.

    “We have players that have really embraced the roles and leadership that we’ve asked them to,” said Karver. “The team dynamic is better then it’s ever been.”

  • Freshman athletes adjust to college sports

    Freshman athletes adjust to college sports

    Ali Deeb, freshman forward for the soccer team just finished his redshirt season.

    Kellen Gerig, freshman guard just started his first game for the Lumberjacks against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

    AJ Mintz, freshman quarterback for the football team just finished his redshirt season.

    By Curran Daly

    Freshman basketball player Kellen Gerig had yet to start a college game. In his first start of the season he played for 17 minutes. In high school, Gerig scored 26.1 points per game and lead his team to a 24-3 record. So far for the Lumberjacks, Gerig has scored 1.1 points per game and averaged 6.9 minutes per game.

    “The hardest part is the change of competition and not playing as much,” Gerig said. “All of us were the stars of our high school and then we all get together and only five can be on the court. So it’s kinda tough to sit on the bench sometimes.”

    Gerig did not play much for the Lumberjack in the early parts of the season, but he felt a strong bond with his teammates and the fans.

    “Everyone’s really close together and we’re like a family,” Gerig said. “All of our fans get pretty into it, we know everyone on campus and in the gym.”

    Teams spend a lot of time together while playing, practicing, and studying. Ali Deeb is a freshman redshirt, who plays for the men’s  soccer team. Deeb can often be found with his friends and fellow teammates, but that doesn’t stop him from missing home.

    “The hardest part was missing my family and missing my city,” Deeb said. “I think that’s just the hardest adjustment, but eventually you get used to it.”

    Deeb is from Garden Grove, Calif. Growing up he loved nature, that was one of the factors that lead to him deciding to come to Humboldt.

    “I always really liked nature and soccer,” Deeb said. “I really wanted to play on the soccer team here because the coach showed a lot of faith in me.”

    The opportunity to play also led freshman AJ Mintz to Humboldt State. Mintz just finished his redshirt season for Lumberjack football team. He came to Humboldt State for the opportunity to learn about football but has learned more off the field.

    “I’ve probably learned more just in life,” Mintz said. “like a lot of life lessons in general, in the first six months of being here.”

    Mintz says these life lessons stem from living alone for the first time. He had an easy time adjusting to his dorm and got along with his roommate, but had to get used to 6 a.m. practices.

    “All through the season when our team was playing, the redshirts were lifting at 6 a.m. before practice. I would say that was the hardest, and not playing on Saturday,” Mintz said.

    In the future all three hope to feature predominantly for their teams. Right now they are more focused on practicing and growing as individuals. Even if that means practicing without playing.