Oct. 8, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Playing with only 10 men the final 48:02, the No. 22 San Diego State men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 16 UCLA Sunday at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs fell to 7-4-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the Pac-10, while the Bruins improved to 8-3-2 and 3-1-1 in conference play.
Senior Raul Bautista was issued his second yellow card late in the first half, forcing SDSU to play with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
With UCLA leading 2-0 after an Aztec defender accidentally knocked a ball into his own net in the 52nd minute, SDSU responded with a goal of its own after many near misses. At 55:15, senior Andrew DiCicco took a pass from freshman Evan Toft, weaved past two Bruin defenders and blasted a shot into the left corner to bring the Aztecs within one goal. It was DiCicco's team-high tying fourth goal of the season.
The tally came minutes after sophomore Nick Collins, with his back to the UCLA net, gathered the ball, turned around and fired a shot from close range that was stopped by Bruin goalkeeper Eric Reed.
Late in the first half, freshman Daniel Ortega had a great chance for the Aztecs but his shot from 25 yards out just missed the right post.
SDSU pressured the Bruins throughout the match despite playing a man down. 10 of the final 15 shots in the game were by an Aztec.
Junior transfer Matt Lemire came off the bench in the second half and had two shots (one on goal), while DiCicco also had two shot attempts. Six others had a shot for SDSU.
Senior All-American goalkeeper Tally Hall, who was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Monday, came up big for the Aztecs once again, making six saves. Hall's best save came in the 29th minute on one of the few good chances UCLA had in the match when he made a diving stop to his right on a volley by Michael Stephens.
David Estrada scored the Bruins' first goal of the match in the 34th minute off a pass by Sal Zizzo.
SDSU will play at nationally ranked UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Saturday.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior tri-captain Andrew DiCicco earned Man of the Match honors for his fourth goal of the season on a well-placed shot to the left corner of the net. DiCicco's two shots were tied for the second most on the team.
GAME NOTES: The Aztecs fell at home for only the second time in their last 20 home matches. SDSU is now 6-1-1 at home this season and 15-2-3 over that 20-game stretch ... SDSU is now 2-2 against nationally ranked opponents this season and will play four more games against team's currently ranked in a national poll ... 1,272 attended Sunday's match.