ROHNERT PARK, Ca – Simon Fraser University gave up a goal less than two minutes into its men's soccer game at Seawolf Soccer Field and then lost 3-1 in its season-opening match to Sonoma State, spoiling Clint Schneider's first official game as Clan head coach.
 
Brenton Frame didn't waste any time getting Sonoma State on the scoreboard, burying a 22-yard free kick into the upper right corner of the net for his first of two goals, handing the Clan its first season-opening loss since it joining the NCAA in 2010.
 
Sonoma opens the 2015 campaign 1-0-0, while the Clan, the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Division II West Region champions, begins its season at 0-1-0.
 
"We were not good enough in the first half hour of the game and got punished for it," said Schneider.
 
The Clan gave up another goal in the 43^rd minute, a breakaway goal by TJ Perez, and a third goal 14 minutes into the second half off a corner kick, falling behind 3-0.
 
Just 1:42 into the contest, Frame bent a rocket around a wall of defenders on a free kick after SSU was fouled just outside the box.  The ball nestled into the corner of the net past Simon Fraser goalkeeper Brandon Watson.  Just before the half, Perez stole deep in Clan territory going one-on-one with Watson before Perez chipped it up and over Watson and into the net for a 2-0 lead at 42:54.
 
In the 59th minute, Frame struck again, this time off of a Josh Sanchez corner kick to put the hosts up 3-0 with just over 30 minutes left to play in regulation.
 
Simon Fraser went on to outshoot Sonoma 9-5 in the second half (and 11-10 in the game), and one of the 11 shots found the net in the 67th minute by James Fraser to cut the Seawolf lead to 3-1.  Then, SSU was called for a foul in the box, setting up a penalty kick for Simon Fraser, but Adam Jones' attempt missed wide left when Sonoma State goalkeeper Mitch North dove the other way, holding the score at 3-1. 
 
The Clan put the pressure on the Seawolves for the final 20 minutes, outshooting SSU 4-0 and was 2-0 in corner kicks, but North came up big with some huge saves to keep the visitors out of the net the rest of the way.
 
"I think we did show resolve to battle back in the game and almost pulled a second goal that would have given us a chance at the comeback," said Schneider. "The squad has massive potential but potential is only as good as the work you have to put in to reach it. We have lots of work to do."
 
North made six stops on the day, including four in the final 45 minutes of the match.  Simon Fraser's Watson made three saves.
 
Next up for the Clan is a match against California Baptist University on Sept. 5 in Seattle, Wa. SFU's plays its home opener against California State University San Bernardino Sept. 9 on Terry Fox Field at SFU. Game time is 7:00 PM. The day marks the start of the university's 50th anniversary celebrations that will feature fireworks following the Clan's match around 8:45 PM. Fans are encouraged to leave plenty of time to find parking.