Aug. 30, 2005
NEWARK, N.J. - The San Diego State men's soccer team concluded its preseason preparations by defeating the New Jersey Institute of Technology, 4-0, in an exhibition contest Tuesday evening in Newark N.J. The win gives the Aztecs a perfect 3-0 mark in preseason friendlies as they prepare to open their regular season on Friday at Rutgers.
After a long trip to the east coast that was hampered by Hurricane Katrina, the Aztecs started slowly, but got on the board at the 15:26 mark on a solo effort by senior captain Heath Creager. That goal stood up through halftime at SDSU took a 1-0 advantage into the locker room at the break.
The Aztecs took control of the contest in the second half scoring 10 minutes (55:19) in on a goal by Johan Helgason off an assist by Andrew DiCicco. They then made it a 3-0 score line when Kraig Chiles scored from a pass by Ryan Reott. It was Chiles' fourth goal in the team's three exhibition contests.
Sophomore Freddy McDonald rounded out the scoring when he netted a goal at 80:02 with assists from Kevin Werbner and Chiles.
The Aztec defense, meanwhile, was shutting down the NJIT offense, limiting it to just four shots on the evening. Goalkeepers Luis Trejo (69 min.) and Tally Hall (21 min.) split time in the nest for SDSU, recording two and one save respectively.
SDSU's offense managed 19 shots, with 10 coming after the intermission.
"I'm Happy that we were able to get through another exhibition scoring and were able to score four goals in the process," commented head coach Lev Kirshner. "More importantly, I glad to see our defense lock down the game and not give up any goals. Our travel yesterday was very tough so we started out pretty slow, but came together in the second half as the stats indicate."
San Diego State begins it 2005 campaign on Friday (Sept. 2) when it faces Rutgers (Kirshner's alma mater) at 8:00 p.m. (EDT) in Piscataway, N.J. The game is part of the Philips/adidas Classic, which is being hosted by the Scarlet Knights. In their second contest of the tourney, the Aztecs will face fifth-ranked St. John's on Saturday (Sept.3) at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).
MAN OF THE MATCH
SDSU goalkeeper Luis Trejo was awarded Man of the Match honors by the SDSU coaching staff. He made perhaps the play of the game when he stopped a point blank shot on breakaway six minutes into game and another save later in the half to preserve the shutout. Trejo is a first-year Aztec who came to SDSU this fall from De Anza College.