Aug. 27, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Sophomore midfielder Kraig Chiles and redshirt freshman Nick Collins each scored a pair of goals apiece to lead the Aztec men's soccer team to a 6-2 win over a group of alumni Saturday afternoon at the SDSU Sports Deck. The goals were the second and third for both players in two preseason contests.
Nick Collins, who was named Man of the Match in last Thursday's 4-2 victory over UC San Diego, got the Aztecs off to a winning start when he opened the scoring in the 21st minute after being put through on goal by teammate Andrew DiCicco.
SDSU doubled its advantage seven minutes later with DiCicco again acting as provider. This time he took a pass on the left wing from defender Ryan Reott and crossed the ball into the middle for freshman Omar Persad to knock home.
The score became 3-0 in favor of the Aztecs in the 37th minute when senior Heath Creager put a ball over the top that Chiles latched onto and beat goalkeeper Tally Hall, a member of the 2005 Aztecs who was in goal for the alums.
The alumni squad worked its way back into the contest when Ryan Curtis took a through ball from defender Ryan Cook and coolly slotted the ball past Aztec goalie Luis Trejo to make in a 3-1 game in the 41st minute.
Chiles' second goal came in the 52nd minute on Creager's second assists of the day. The Aztecs upped their lead to 5-1 in the 64th minute as Chiles spooned the ball over his defender to Dennis Sanchez, who in turn chipped the ball over Hall and into the net.
With 13 minutes left, Collins notched his second goal of the match, taking a punt from goalkeeper Trejo at midfield, beating his defender, and racing in on goal alone to score.
However, the alumni had the final word when David Beltran picked up the rebound of a shot from Matt Williams and sent the ball into the goal from 12 yards out on the left.
"Our current players look forward to this game every year," said head coach Lev Kirshner. "These former players represent some of the tradition and the legacy of our program, and it's an honor and pleasure to play against them. Even though they've left the competitive environment of Aztec soccer, they still give us a good match and help us prepare for the upcoming season."
Among the crowd at the contest were legendary Aztec head coach George Logan along with former player George Plemons. Logan was the Aztecs' first head coach, compiling a mark of 148-48-17 records during his 14 seasons (1968-81). Plemons was a member of Logan's first SDSU squad, competing from 1968 through 1970.
San Diego State will depart for the east coast on Monday where their first match will be an exhibition contest against the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Tuesday (August 30) at 1:00 p.m. (EDT). The Aztecs open their regular season three days later (Friday, Sept 3) when they visit Rutgers at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).