Nov. 9, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored with 36 seconds left in regulation, despite being a man down, to force an extra session, but they did not have enough left to pull out the win as they eventually fell to New Mexico 3-2 in overtime. After giving up the go-ahead goal to UNM at the 84:18 mark, SDSU's Kevin Sapanli scored on a penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2. The Lobos tallied the game winner five minutes into the first overtime. SDSU finishes the regular season with an 8-7-3 overall record and 2-2-2 mark in the MPSF.
UNM got on the board first with a goal by Jeff Rowland at the 29:38 mark. SDSU's Matt Couch provided the answer, as he used a header to flick the ball over the UNM goalkeeper off of a throw-in by Ryan Curtis at the 38:38 mark. The defenses remained in control for the rest of the half as the teams went to intermission tied 1-1.
SDSU dominated play in the second period as they held an 11-3 shot advantage, despite losing the services of defenseman Kenny Fechner who received two yellow cards. With the advantage, the Lobos took the lead with less than six minutes remaining when Erik Bagwell found the right corner of the net. The Aztecs were down to their last chance when they earned a direct kick just outside the upper-left corner of the penalty box with under a minute remaining. Sapanli's direct kick was headed around the UNM wall, but a Lobo defender stuck his arm out to deflect the ball earning the penalty kick. Sapanli stepped up and rifled the ball into the left corner to tie the game, 2-2.
New Mexico would take advantage of the extra man again in overtime, gaining several quality chances before Jeff Rowland ended the game with his second goal of the game at the 95:32 mark.
Sapanli has recorded at least a point in five of the Aztecs last seven matches, recording 10 points in the seven games. The goal for Couch was his third of the season, while it was Curtis' first assist on the year. Colin Hanke recorded three saves to move into sixth place on SDSU single-season list with 81.
SDSU enters the MPSF tournament as the fourth seed and will play the host, Sacramento State, on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be a rematch of the Oct. 31 contest when the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie in Sacramento.