Oct. 25, 2002
SAN DIEGO - For the third straight match, the San Diego State men's soccer team battled a conference opponent down to the wire only to suffer another close loss, this time falling 2-0 to first-place San Jose State this afternoon at the Sports Deck. The Spartans (9-7 overall, 3-0 MPSF) scored two late goals in the 84th and 89th minutes to send the Aztecs (4-10-1, 0-3) to their third straight nail-biting loss.
Much of the match was played at a methodical pace, with each team feeling out the other's perimeter and searching for offensive openings. The Aztecs supplied much of the early pressure by out-shooting the Spartans, 8-4, and testing SJSU goalkeeper Eddie Dominguez with five shots on net in the first half. SDSU's first chance was perhaps its best, as junior Nick Natale (Gresham, Ore./Sam Barlow HS) forced Dominguez to lunge to his left and save a 25-yard blast in the 10th minute of action.
Freshman Raul Bautista (Salida, Calif./Grace Davis HS), who was able to take a more offensive role as the Aztecs were finally able to start a somewhat healthy back line, also had two early chances on a shot and header in the 17th and 20th minutes, respectively.
SDSU goalkeeper Brian Barnes (Aurora, Colo./Overland HS) was also up to the task against a Spartan offense that had outscored its opponents, 8-3, during a four-game winning streak. His best flurry of action came in the 56th minute when he turned aside consecutive scoring chances by the Spartans. Barnes ended up with five saves on the day, the 10th time in 14 starts that he has registered four or more saves in a match.
But it was San Jose State that finally got the game-deciding break in the 84th minute. The Spartans' Tony Chang played cross from the right side that Johnny Gonzalez headed into the left corner of the net for the game-winning goal. As the Aztecs sought the equalizer and pressed up into the offensive half of the field, the Spartans were able to add an insurance goal when Frank Mata won the ball at midfield and converted the breakaway against a defenseless Barnes, finalizing the score at 2-0.
Natale led the Aztec offense with three shots, while Bautista and sophomores Drew Picone (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) and Paul Szefler (Aurora, Colo./Overland HS) added two shots apiece. Gonzalez led the Spartans with four shots, while Dominguez registered five saves.
The Aztecs get a final chance at a home victory against a conference opponent when they welcome in Sacramento State on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. start at the Sports Deck.
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 83:22 SJSU 7 Gonzalez, Johnny (3) 11 Chang, Tony Cross from right, header 2. 88:47 SJSU 20 Mata, Frank (1) Unassisted Breakaway from midfield