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Sept. 3, 2002
- Hobbled by several injuries during a 0-1-1 season-opening weekend, the San Diego State men's soccer team experiences a much-needed 10-day break before its next match with No. 17 San Diego on Sept. 12.
- The Aztecs suffered injuries to several top players during the preseason and were without the services of four prospective starters for each of the first two matches. Sophomore defender Drew Picone, senior midfielder Travis Baker, junior defender/midfielder Kenny Fechner and sophomore defender Jeff Whitton have yet to see the field for the Aztecs.
Recapping St. Mary's
- In SDSU's Labor Day home-opener, the Aztecs and Gaels played a back-and forth match decided on two SMC goals within the final 7 minutes, 16 seconds of play. After four lead changes, the Gaels claimed a 4-3 victory.
- Senior Tyler Tinling scored the Aztecs' first goal, while sophomore Paul Szefler and freshman Matt Couch tallied in the second half. Couch's goal was the first of his collegiate career.
- The defeat is San Diego State's second straight in home season-openers after a 33-year unbeaten streak. The Aztecs are now 28-2-5 in season-opening home matches.
Recapping UC Riverside
- The Aztecs opened the 2002 season with a 1-1 tie at UC Riverside. Szefler scored the Aztecs' first goal of the season at the 8:36 mark, and while Riverside drew even 10 minutes later, senior goalkeeper Brian Barnes preserved the tie with a six-save effort through regulation and two overtimes.
Off and Running
- Midfielder Paul Szefler, the Aztecs' most durable player a season ago when he appeared in all 20 matches, has avoided the early-season injury bug plaguing his teammates and is off to a great start in his sophomore campaign. The Aurora, Colo. native has scored in each of SDSU's two matches and leads the Aztecs with five points on two goals and an assist. "Paul's given us a great performance thus far," said head coach Lev Kirshner. "He's a tireless worker, one of our most skilled players, and is showing his effects early in the season with two goals and an assist."
Coach Kirshner
- In his first two seasons, head coach Lev Kirshner restored the competitiveness of the proud SDSU program. Now entering his third year, Kirshner believes the 2002 edition of the Aztecs are unified toward a goal of returning the program to the NCAA Tournament. "I think the biggest strength of this team is its cohesiveness," Kirshner said. "It's one of those things that everybody talks about, but when you really have the chemistry, you know that you're not just throwing words out there. Every-body in this program is on the same page and looking to get into the NCAA tournament."
- In 2002, Kirshner is assisted by Matt Hall, the third-year goalkeeping coach who played from 1996-98 in the Aztecs' net, and Dave Siracusa, in his second year with the SDSU program but who boasts more than 26 years of experience in organized soccer. Rene Miramontes, a former Aztec captain from 1979-80, begins his second year as the program's technical director.
The Schedule
- The Aztecs face six NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago as well as two teams that appeared in the 2001 rankings. SDSU hits the road to face 2001 tournament teams San Diego, UCLA, Santa Clara and New Mexico and hosts 2001 NCAA participants Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga. The Aztecs' final regular season road trip takes them to Air Force and Denver, teams that appeared in last season's rankings. "One of the first things that I wanted to accomplish as head coach was to make our schedule more competitive and play more national contenders," Kirshner said. "I don't know the last time that we've played a schedule that's as good as this from game one to game 19."
Meet The Aztecs
- San Diego State returns eight starters and 14 letterwinners for the 2002 campaign. Key returners include three of last season's top-five scorers - sophomore Eric Wohl (6 goals, 5 assists, 17 points in 2001), senior Tyler Tinling (5g, 1a, 11p) and sophomore Pat Strait (4g, 3a, 11p). Looking to join that prolific group of scorers in 2002 is senior Travis Baker, a Pt. Loma HS product who played in only five matches last season due to injury.
- Senior defender Ryan Cook, a team co-captain in 2002, is coming off all-MPSF second-team honors from a year ago. Also back for the Aztecs is senior goalkeeper and co-captain Brian Barnes, who begins his fourth consecutive season as the SDSU starting keeper. Barnes suffered through an injury-plagued 2001 season - he appeared in only nine matches and made 30 saves - but he looks to return to the form that earned him all-MPSF goalkeeper status as a sophomore.
Meet The New Aztecs
- The Aztecs' promising class of 13 newcomers is made up of 10 freshmen and three transfers. Impact freshmen include talented finisher Raul Bautista (Grace Davis HS) and the captain of last year's No. 1-ranked high school team, Nate Slesnick (Bellarmine Prep). From out of state, the Aztecs landed a pair of talented Arizona natives - Matt Couch, a skilled finisher from Tucson, and Luke Burgess, one of the west's top prep goalkeepers.
- Transfers to the SDSU program include: sophomore goalkeeper Mike Land, who played for Cal Poly last season; sophomore defender/midfielder Blake Perry, a starter for Fresno State a year ago; and Kenny Fechner, a junior-college transfer who played in the most games ever at Yavapai College.