SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- After Portland freshman Benji Michel had given the visiting side a lead with a first-half goal, the Sacramento State Hornets responded with two unanswered, which included the game-winner in the 90th minute, to escape with a 2-1 win over the Pilots at Hornet Field on Thursday evening.
 
The game-winner came with only 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and it came on a rebound after Portland (4-2-1) goalkeeper Paul Christensen made a clutch diving save on the initial shot. But Sacramento State's (2-3-0) Alex Bettencourt was there to clean up the rebound with his second goal of the season.
 
"We did want we needed to for 75 minutes but did a poor job closing the game out and protecting the lead on the road," said Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. "We very much looked like a team who's played three road games in six days, which was a scheduling error on our part. We learn some tough lessons about end of the game management today which will serve the group well in the future. We will grow from this and move forward as we prepare to play a very good and tough UC Davis team."

Sac State's rally was needed after Michel and fellow freshman Eric de Graaf connected on Portland's goal in the 32nd minute. De Graaf played a ball into the area, which found the head of Michel. Michel then sent it past the Hornets' keeper to register his second goal of the season and his second in the past two games. De Graaf claims his first career assist.

Portland also had a handful of other chances during the first 45 minutes before and after the Michel goal that would have provided some breathing room, but Jackson Jellah had a shot saved and Michel rattled the woodwork in the 23rd minute. At the other end of the pitch Christensen was solid as usual, denying two Hornet shots in the first half to preserve the Portland lead.
 
But the Hornets finally found the back of the net when Nate Nugen scored on a through ball from Christian Webb. The equalizer is Nugen's first goal of the year.
 
And then in the 90th minute when it appeared the game would most likely reach overtime, Brad Bumgarner forced Christensen into the diving save, and Bettencourt was in the right place at the right time.
 
The loss ends a five game unbeaten streak for the Pilots, which is the longest such streak since Portland won six in a row in 2011.
 
The Pilots next make the short trek to Davis, Calif., for another non-conference match on Sunday afternoon against the UC Davis Aggies. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Aggie Soccer Field.