Oct. 16, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team had No. 7 Loyola Marymount on the ropes for 67 minutes and finally completed the knockout in overtime as the Aztecs removed LMU from the ranks of the unbeaten, 3-2. Sophomore forward Eric Wohl's game-winner in the 97th minute completed the overtime thriller and gave SDSU (4-7-1) its first victory against a ranked opponent this season while handing LMU (11-1-2) its first loss of the season.
"Today we learned something very good about ourselves - how to win a game against a top-10 program," SDSU head coach Lev Kirshner said. "I've been telling these players that we're a talented group and can beat these types of teams, and today we did it."
The Aztecs, who once again played without the services of four injured starters for much of the match, controlled the pace and tempo of the contest for most of the first half. Before the Lions could put together any sustained attack, the Aztecs had converted their early scoring chances to grab a 2-0 lead. In the eighth minute, freshman forward Matt Couch controlled junior defender Ryan Curtis's throw-in and kicked the ball off a defender before regaining possession. Couch then lofted a ball over LMU back-up keeper Robert Flores and into the right corner of the net to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead.
Couch struck again for the Aztecs in the 22nd minute. While LMU's regular starting keeper Adam Sthay waited to check in to the match, sophomore Paul Szefler played a cross from the right side that Couch headed past Flores and into the goal to put SDSU up, 2-0.
At the halfway point of the first half, the Lions were finally able to apply some offensive pressure, but SDSU senior goalkeeper Brian Barnes preserved the early lead by repelling a flurry of Lions shots with three sprawling saves in a one-minute span.
The No. 7-ranked Lions got back into the match within a four-minute period of the second half. At 63 minutes, 52 seconds, LMU's Kevin Novak redirected Eric Kim's cross with a header past Barnes to get the Lions within 2-1. Less than four minutes later, Yuji Teranishi dribbled across the top of the box and got off a shot that glanced off the outstretched hands of a diving Barnes. The ball continued past Barnes, glancing off the post and settling into the left side of the net to tie the match, 2-2.
The Lions were awarded five corner kicks while reeling off six more shots in the remaining minutes of regulation, but the Aztec defense held to send the match into overtime.
In the 98th minute, Wohl gathered in a ball sent over the top by junior Chris Novak and shot it past Sthay, touching off a wild celebration by the Sports Deck's north goal as the Aztecs recorded their first victory in four tries against ranked opponents this season.
"It's been very difficult for us, physically and emotionally, with all the injuries this season that have set us back," Kirshner said. "And today we had to do it again without four starters, but we went out and showed that we can beat one of the best teams in the country."
Barnes recorded 10 saves for the Aztecs, for his second double-digit save effort of the season. Sthay made two saves for the Lions.
The Aztecs open MPSF conference play Friday when they host UNLV at the Sports Deck for a 3:00 p.m. match
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 7:46 SDSU 13 Matt Couch (2) 2 Ryan Curtis 2. 21:55 SDSU 13 Matt Couch (3) 14 Paul Szefler Cross from right, header 3. 63:52 LMU 19 NOVAK, Kevin (7) 8 BREWER, Michael/16 KIM, Eric 4. 67:20 LMU 6 TERANISHI, Yuji (2) 11 DIAZ, Salvador Dribble across box, shot to left corner 5. 97:42 SDSU 11 Eric Wohl (3) 12 Chris Novak/8 Anthony Zoric Ball over the top, shot
Loyola Marymount## Player MIN GA Saves---------------------------------------18 FLORES, Robert...... 21:55 2 11 STHAY, Adam......... 75:47 1 2
SDSU## Player MIN GA Saves---------------------------------------22 Brian Barnes........ 97:42 2 10