GOLD, SOL BATTLE TO DRAW
Wiesenfarth’s first-half hat trick spoiled by late goal
An opportunity to earn three points slipped away from Sacramento Gold FC late in a high-octane 3-3 draw with the rival Sonoma County Sol Saturday at Casa Grande High School.
Matt Wiesenfarth one-upped his brace from Sacramento’s most recent match (3-0 over the East Bay Stompers) with a first half hat trick. It was the first hat trick by a Gold player since Nico Gonazlez eight-minute scoring spree against CD Aguiluchos USA in 2015. The game was also the first draw for the Gold in nearly two calendar years.
The offense got going in only 45 seconds, with some quick combination play up the left side. Danny Lomeli lofted a cross to the middle, where Wiesenfarth met it, smashing the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 Gold lead.
Sacramento struck again about six minutes later. This time, the play switched from the right to left, but right to Manolo Piña. Piña sent a cross into the box, where Wiesenfarth leapt up and headed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
The lead would last for about a half hour, until a pair of defensive lapses cost the Gold dearly. Tyler Hurst answered Wiesenfarth with two goals about a minute apart, tying the game at 2-2.
However, Wiesenfarth would answer right back. This time, it was Evan Alvarez who sent the cross in the box. The result was the same, with Wiesenfarth sending a towering header thundering into the net to make it 3-2 going into halftime.
Throughout the second half, Sacramento had plenty of chances to add to its lead and put the game away. However, unlike in the first half, none would go in during the second. The misses would come back to haunt the Gold when Sonoma found the tying goal with only minutes left in the game, making the final score 3-3 and sending both teams home with a point each.
The result leaves Sacramento with a 2-2-1 record, seven points on the season, and third place in the Golden Gate Conference, one point behind Sonoma.
Sacramento Gold FC will once again hit the road, this time for a second contest in Wine Country against Napa Valley 1839. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Memorial Stadium in Napa.
