Oct. 7, 2004
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The Pacific-10 Conference announced on Thursday the addition of San Diego State University as an affiliate member in the sport of men's soccer. The Aztecs will join the league for the 2005 season. SDSU is currently completing its 10th season of competition in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
"It is a great day for our men's soccer program," said SDSU Director of Athletics Mike Bohn, who is completing his first year at the school. "We have a tremendous history in men's soccer and joining the Pacific-10 will help us as we strive to reach the highest level of the sport."
San Diego State will become the sixth member of the Pacific-10 for men's soccer, joining California, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, and Washington.
"The Pacific-10 Conference is very pleased that San Diego State University men's soccer program will become affiliated with the conference," Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said. "It has a fine men's soccer program, and we look forward to having it compete with our members which sponsor men's soccer."
SDSU has a tradition-rich soccer program. Since the first team kicked off in 1968, the Aztecs have won over 60 percent of their games, amassing 369 victories. SDSU has had eight players earn All-America honors, four Hermann Trophy finalists, 33 all-region selections, six Academic All-Americans, six NCAA tournament berths and participated in the 1987 national championship game.
"We are excited about the Pac-10 having confidence in our vision and our program by accepting us into their conference " head men's soccer coach Lev Kirshner said. "I came to San Diego State to be part of a championship program, and this is the next step to getting to that level."
The tradition of success at SDSU doesn't stop at the college level. Forty-two Aztecs have played pro soccer, 26 of whom were members of the U.S. national soccer team program. The alumni of San Diego State include names such as World Cup participants Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda, Chris Sullivan and Cle Kooiman.
Since the inception of Pac-10 men's soccer in 2000, the league has compiled a 22-14 record (.611) in NCAA postseason competition. Four teams have competed in the NCAA men's soccer championship in each of the last three season, while three teams made the field in 2000. The league has placed teams in the NCAA semifinals three times, with two reaching the national championship game - UCLA and Stanford in 2002.
Four Pac-10 teams are ranked among the Top-25 in the Oct. 4 Soccer America poll: No. 3 California, No. 7 Stanford, No. 14 Washington and No. 19 UCLA.