In the annual preseason coaches’ poll the Gators were picked to finish fifth in the North Division. But as it stands, fourth is already a lock and third place is quite possible.

For the SF State men’s soccer team, the conference schedule concluded with a split after a 2-0 victory against Humboldt State on Friday and, in the home finale, a 2-1 loss to No. 12 in the country Sonoma State Sunday afternoon.

With a week to go before the California Collegiate Athletic Association schedule is finished, the Gators sit in third place, four points ahead of the Humboldt State Lumberjacks and have a chance to stay in third if they don’t win their final two games.

Humboldt State will travel to play Cal State Stanislaus and playoff-bound Chico State next weekend.

In the final home stand of the year, the Lumberjacks traveled to Cox Stadium as the Gators were looking to avenge a 2-1 loss in its only trip to Humboldt State earlier in the season.

Feeding off their early-season loss to Humboldt State, SF State clicked offensively as it out-shot the Lumberjacks 8 to 2 in the first half and 10 to 5 in the second half.

The Gators struck first in the 28th minute when Sergio Villalva scored his third goal of the season on an assist from Mario Hernandez, giving the Gators an early 1-0 lead.

The SF State defense held strong even without its leader, Wes Whitt, who was suspended after earning two yellow cards in the Chico State game on Oct. 19. Jeffrey Wiant started in place of Whitt.

Of the seven shots allowed, only two shots were on goal and most shots were from a distance that keeper Israel Cisneros managed to slap away. The Lumberjacks didn’t really test Cisneros as he ended the contest with one save.

In the 60th minute, Spencer Schwandt connected on an assist from Dylan Glass and Charles Conway to give the Gators the 2-0 lead.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we won,” SF State head coach Joe Hunter said.

On Sunday it was Senior Day, starring the seniors from both teams in a ceremony before the game.

Cisneros and defender Jake Beverlin were honored for their respective careers in purple and gold.

“[Israel] always keeps us in the game, the whole time he’s been here. Jake’s [a] solid, shutdown defender. They have been great all year and we’re going to miss them,” Glass said.

Sonoma State, coming off of a 6-0 victory against CSU Monterey Bay, showed the Gators why it is the best team in the league as the Seawolves jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half.

In the 13th minute, Nathan Medina connected on a ball from Eric Lafon for the 1-0 lead.

About 10 minutes later, Sonoma State struck again when Andrew Bailey headed in a cross from Eric Lafon, extending the Seawolves lead to 2-0.

The Gators responded after Glass earned a penalty kick when the Seawolves’ keeper Brook Johnson hit Glass in the air.

Schwandt finished the penalty kick, beating Johnson to the right to cut into the Sonoma lead, 2-1.

Sonoma State controlled a majority of the match using precision passing, perfect touches and great awareness to keep the offensive pressure on.

“They’re very organized, very deliberate, and very smart. Look at them and how they play,” Hunter said. “I told them ‘you need to take that as an example. You want to emulate the best teams.’”

Cisneros made two spectacular second-half saves to keep things interesting. The first was a diving save to his left and the second when he stuffed a wide open break away for Sonoma State that surely would have been a goal.

“Big guys play in big games. Israel showed why he’s been a key component, a key starter on this team,” Hunter said.

Even so, the Gators couldn’t capitalize and Sonoma State got the 2-1 victory.

The reality of his final home game hit Cisneros after the clock ran out.

“It’s a sad day, but all good things come to an end,” said Cisneros about his home finale.