Oct. 2, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Midfielder Dennis Sanchez's goal with two seconds remaining in regulation lifted the San Diego State Aztecs to a 1-0 victory over third-ranked California Sunday afternoon at the SDSU Sports Deck. It was SDSU's first win over a ranked side since it defeated then number-seven Loyola Marymount on Oct, 16, 2002.
The Aztecs, themselves ranked as high as 24th in the country (College Soccer News), improved to 7-0-2 on the season as they notched their first Pac-10 win to stand at 1-0-1 in league play. The Golden Bears lost for only the second time this season, falling to 7-2-1 (0-2-0 Pac-10).
Sanchez, a true freshman from Redmond, Wash. (Bishop Manogue HS), picked a good time to score his first collegiate goal. With the clock running down, SDSU goalie Tally Hall sent a free kick from 15 yards outside his penalty box down field where defender Matt Couch knocked in on to Sanchez to the left of goal.
Sanchez then had a touch before firing a low shot to the near post from 12 yards out that eluded Cal keeper Eric Kronberg. The goal came at the 89:58 mark of the contest.
The first half was an evenly played 45 minutes with SDSU having a slim 5-4 shot advantage at the break. In the second half, both teams had a couple of good chances to score.
The Aztecs had a flurry of four shots between the 73rd and 76th minute, two of which were blocked and two went high. The visitors responded with a pair of back-to-back efforts on goal in the 89th minute that forced two excellent saves from SDSU goalie Tally Hall.
SDSU finished the match with 16 shots to seven by Cal. Hall was called upon to make total of three saves on the afternoon while Kronberg was credited with four.
"I'm very proud of the team's effort this afternoon and the improvement in our overall play from last Friday's tie with Stanford," commented SDSU head coach Lev Kirshner. "Our determination and effort in this win is an indication of the direction in which the program is moving.
"After our first weekend of Pac-10 play, I'm happy to be 1-0-1 in league action and still the only team in the conference that is undefeated overall this season."
San Diego State will get its first taste of Pac-10 road action this coming week when it travels north to face Oregon State on Friday, Oct. 7, at 2:00 p.m. (PDT).
MAN OF THE MATCH
Midfielder Dennis Sanchez was named San Diego State's Man of the Match in Sunday's win over California. His overall play in helping control the midfield was capped by his first career goal, the game-winner with two second left in the contest.
2005 Man of the Match Honorees8/18 vs. UCSD...........Kraig Chiles, MF8/27 vs. Alumni.........Nick Collins, MF8/30 vs. NJIT...........Luis Trejo, GK9/2 vs. Rutgers........Heath Creager, F9/3 vs. St. John's.....Tally Hall, GK9/10 vs. UC Riverside...Johann Helgason, MF9/15 vs. Pt. Loma.......Raul Bautista, F9/18 vs. UMKC...........Kraig Chiles, MF9/22 vs. Alabama A&M....Matt Couch, D9/25 vs. Duquesne.......Kraig Chiles, MF9/30 vs. Stanford.......Matt Couch, D10/2 vs. California.....Dennis Sanchez, MF