Nov. 3, 2002
DENVER, Colo. - The San Diego State men's soccer team dropped its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation finale to Denver, 3-0, on Sunday. The Pioneers (7-11-0 overall, 1-4-0 MPSF) took a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute and scored two goals within a one-minute span in the second half to send the Aztecs (4-12-2, 0-5-1) to defeat.
The loss eliminates the Aztecs from postseason play, while the Pioneers claimed a spot in the six-team MPSF tournament.
Chris Fagnant scored the first goal of the game, converting his own rebounded shot past SDSU goalkeeper Brian Barnes (Aurora, Colo./Overland HS) for a 1-0 Denver lead. Pioneer senior Robert Rice registered the first of his two goals on the game in the 58th minute to give Denver a two-goal lead.
The score was 2-0 and the Aztecs had a chance to get back into it after a Pioneer penalty awarded SDSU a 20-yard free kick in the 59th minute. But Denver defended the play and turned up the field quickly for an odd-man rush that Rice converted successfully to finalize the score at 3-0.
Barnes was credited with five saves, giving him a total of 95 for the season to break his own SDSU single-season mark of 90 that he set in 2000 and tied in Friday's match against Air Force. Barnes also broke SDSU's career mark for saves this season and has a four-year total of 279 saves.
Sophomore Eric Wohl (Rancho Bernardo, Calif./R. Bernardo HS) led the Aztec offense with three shots. Sophomore Blake Perry (Arcadia, Calif./Arcadia HS) registered the Aztecs' shot on goal.
SDSU plays its 2002 finale and celebrates Senior Day on Friday at the Sports Deck with a 3:00 p.m. match against Gonzaga.
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Time Team ## Goal Scorer Assists--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 38:38 DENVER 7 Chris Fagnant (4) 9 Nat Borchers Off rebound 2. 57:44 DENVER 22 Robert Rice (6) 9 Nat Borchers One-on-one situation deep in box 3. 58:37 DENVER 22 Robert Rice (7) 12 Alejandro Diaz/9 Nat Borchers Odd man rush after penalty