Nov. 1, 2002
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A short-handed San Diego State men's soccer team fell at Air Force, 5-1, on Friday afternoon in snowy and foggy conditions in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Aztecs, who were playing without head coach Lev Kirshner and freshman forward Matt Couch due to red card suspensions, drop to 4-11-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the MPSF, while the Falcons improve to 8-8-1, 2-3.
Despite a game-time temperature that reached only into the upper teens, the action was up-and-down for most of the match as a combined 47 shots were registered. Air Force, playing its home finale, converted its early chance in the third minute on Thomas Clark's third goal of the season. The Falcons went on to a 3-0 halftime lead and added to it early in the second half before the Aztecs could get on the board.
In the 65th minute, a pair of sophomores connected to give the Aztecs' their goal. Pat Strait (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica HS) scored his first goal of the season off a cross from sophomore Eric Wohl (Rancho Bernardo, Calif./R. Bernardo HS). For Wohl, it was his team-leading fifth assist of the season, and he now stands second on the team with 11 assists.
The Aztecs sorely missed the services of their head coach and the finishing capabilities of Couch, SDSU's third-leading scorer and second-leading shot producer, in the up-and-down match. Despite those losses, SDSU managed to out-shoot Air Force 24-23 and lead in corners, 7-5, but Falcon goalkeeper Mike Taylor proved to be unbeatable until late in the match. Wohl led the Aztecs with seven shots, while senior Tyler Tinling (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) reeled off four shots and junior Nick Natale (Gresham, Ore./Sam Barlow HS) registered three shots.
With his nine saves on the day, SDSU goalkeeper Brian Barnes (Aurora, Colo./Overland HS) matched his own single-season record for saves in a season that he set in 2000 with 90 saves.
The Aztecs wrap up the MPSF regular season when they travel to Denver on Sunday to take on the Pioneers for a noon MST match.
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 2:41 AF 5 Thomas Clark (3) 10 Dan Walsh Bicycle kick in front of goal 2. 19:34 AF 6 Paul Gagliardi (4) 5 Thomas Clark Cross to middle of box, shot 3. 27:27 AF 10 Dan Walsh (3) 11 Marcus Sagastume Header in front after save 4. 48:03 AF 4 Carlos Maqueda (2) Unassisted Gathered in box top shelf 5. 58:32 AF 10 Dan Walsh (4) 11 Marcus Sagastume One-timer with left foot 6. 64:39 SDSU 7 Pat Strait (1) 11 Eric Wohl Cross from right side on ground