HAYWARD, CA -- The Men's Soccer team closed its regular season with a loss at CSU Hayward on Saturday, watching its record fall to 11-5-2.

Hayward's Adam Ivankovic scored his 16th goal of the season in the 65th minute, and UCSC couldn't respond despite getting eight shots on goal, including three by Freshman Forward Marcus Hammel.

The team still has hopes for a postseason berth, and will find out Sunday if it will make its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships.

The team has had a fantastic season in many areas. In 18 matches, UCSC gave up only 10 goals for the year, breaking the school record of 12 set last season. They had a school-best 11 shutouts, ranking them one of the best defensive teams in the country. At one point, UCSC had gone eight matches without surrendering a goal.

During preseason play, the team shocked Division I San Jose State, 1-0 in Spartan Stadium. The team then opened their season beating another DI, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1-0. Against Division II CSU Stanislaus, four different UCSC players would score in a 4-0 route.

One year after losing all-time assists leader Brendon Taguinod to graduation, the team appears set at striker for years to come. Freshmen Forwards Marcus Hammel and Bryan Baird lead the team with 24 and 19 points, respectively. Hammel had two three-goal hat tricks, and at times dazzled teammates, opponents and fans alike with an assortment of moves with the ball. Baird was second on the team in goals(7), assists(5) and points. Junior Midfielder Kevin Anderson lead the team in assists(6) and was third in points(16). Starting Goalkeeper Daniel Chamberlain finished with a .522 goals against average.

Perhaps most encouraging is the team's youth. Hammel and Baird are only Freshmen, and the team will only lose two players, Seniors Austin Roman and Jordan Trigg, next season to graduation.

Congratulations to the entire team on what has already been an outstanding year.