Oct. 20, 2002
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The San Diego State men's soccer team suffered its second straight heartbreaking conference loss with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of New Mexico. The Lobos (11-2 overall, 1-0 MPSF) scored two second-half goals and withstood a late Aztec rally to claim their first conference victory of the season while sending SDSU (4-9-1, 0-2) to its second consecutive one-goal MPSF defeat.
The conference foes battled through a scoreless first half, with the Lobos holding a 7-5 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks through the first 45 minutes. However, New Mexico capitalized on an early second-half chance when Junro Narita fired home his third goal of the season in the 49th minute to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead.
It remained a one-goal match even as SDSU stepped up its offensive pressure. The Aztecs, who were held to just one shot on goal in the first half, peppered New Mexico goalie Andrew Weber with eight of their 10 shots in the second half. Freshman Matt Couch, who scored two goals in the Aztecs' 3-2 overtime upset of No. 7 Loyola Marymount on Wednesday, supplied much of the pressure with all three of his shots testing Weber. But New Mexico was the team to score next, as Ben Ashwill converted his MPSF-leading ninth goal of the season off a cross from Lance Watson in the 84th minute to give the Lobos a 2-0 lead.
Ashwill's tally would prove to be the insurance goal that New Mexico needed. With the Aztecs playing in a mode of urgency in the 89th minute, sophomore Eric Wohl, who defeated New Mexico with an overtime goal in last season's meeting, reeled off a shot that Weber could not control. Freshman Raul Bautista banged home the rebound for his first collegiate goal, pulling SDSU within 2-1.
The Aztecs had one last chance with two seconds left in the match, but sophomore Drew Picone's blast from 30 yards was turned aside by Weber.
Senior goalkeeper Brian Barnes registered four saves for SDSU, while Weber made eight stops for New Mexico. Wohl's fourth assist of the season gives him 10 points, second most for the Aztecs.
SDSU will look to collect its first MPSF victory of the season Friday when it hosts San Jose State on Friday for a 3:00 p.m. match at the Sports Deck.
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 48:20 UNM02 20 Junro Narita (3) Unassisted outside of the box, right side 2. 83:34 UNM02 2 Ben Ashwill (9) 10 Lance Watson/11 Stian Eriksen off a cross from the left 3. 88:53 SDSU 10 Raul Bautista (1) 11 Eric Wohl off a rebound