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Sept. 9, 2003
SAN DIEGO -
Aztecs Look To Get Back On Track Against UC Riverside
* SDSU will try and regain their winning ways when they host UC Riverside on Saturday. After starting the year with two impressive wins, the Aztecs fell to Point Loma Nazarene on Thursday. UC Riverside enters the match 2-2 on the year including a 2-1 double-overtime win over San Jose State on Sunday.
* SDSU and UCR played in the 2002 season opener and battled to a 1-1 tie in Riverside. Both teams scored in the first 18 minutes and then remained scoreless through two overtimes.
Recapping Last Week's Match
*San Diego State fell to Point Loma Nazarene 2-0 in their only game last week. The Aztecs outshot the Sea Lions 20-14 but were unable to register a goal. PLNU scored their first goal on a penalty kick in the first half and used the momentum to notch the second goal two minutes later. It was the first ever win for PLNU in the 12 times that the two schools have met.
Great Start
* Despite the trip up at PLNU, the Aztecs still have a shot to begin the year at 3-1, which would mark the best start for the Aztecs since they accomplished the feat in 1994.
Poway Connection
* This is not the first time freshmen Colin Jennings and Kraig Chiles have teamed up as a dynamic duo. The two Aztecs have played together since elementary school, including club and high school soccer at Poway High School. The two freshman have jumped into the collegiate ranks together and are already starting and making an impact. Jennings scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the Aztecs' season opener against Oregon State. Chiles is second on the team with seven shots and tied for the team lead with three shots on goal.
Road Weary
* The loss at Point Loma increases the Aztec road winless streak to 10 games, dating back to the 2001 season. SDSU is 0-9-1 in their last 10 road matches and have not earned a win away from the Sports Deck since a 2-0 victory over Fresno State on Oct. 21, 2001.
Fresh Faces Make Big Impact
* Out of 20 players who have contributed to the 2003 season, 11 of them are new to the program. In addition, three other Aztecs were on the team last year but unable to play due to injuries or redshirts, and Kenny Fechner and Colin Hanke combined for only five games in 2002. These 16 players account for three goals, three assists, and all of the goalkeeping so far this season.
Aztecs In The Polls
* SDSU cracked the NSCAA/adidas regional poll after the first weekend of play, but fell from the rankings this week. New Mexico is the only member of the MPSF member in the top 10 at No. 7.
NSCAA/adidas Far West Region Top 10
Rk School W-L-T
1 UCLA 3-1-1
2 Santa Clara 3-0-0
3 UC Santa Barbara 2-0-1
3 Stanford 1-1-0
5 Cal State Northridge 3-0-1
6 Washington 2-0-1
7 New Mexico 2-1-1
8 Gonzaga 3-0-0
9 Cal State Fullerton 2-2-0
10 Loyola Marymount 2-2-0
Looking Ahead: UNLV Tournament
* The Aztecs will play at the UNLV Tournament next weekend. SDSU's first game is on Friday against Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green. The Aztecs will finish the tournament against Drake on Sunday.
Bowling Green (1-0-1)
* SDSU won the only previous matchup between the two schools, earning a 2-0 victory in 1985 which was also at the UNLV Tournament.
* The Falcons opened with a 0-0 tie against Cincinnati and earned their first win over Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday, 3-0.
* BGSU will travel to Orlando to face Central Florida and Stetson this weekend before heading to Las Vegas.
Drake (3-0-1)
* Drake is off to their best start in school history.
* This marks the second time ever and the second straight season the schools have done battle with the Aztecs falling 1-0 to the Bulldogs last year at the SDSU/USD Tournament.
* The Bulldogs earned a 2-0 win over DePaul on Friday and tied Oral Roberts 0-0 on Sunday.
* Drake will play UM-Kansas City this weekend.