Sept. 29, 2007
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team played to a double-overtime, 0-0 tie with No. 25 UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs (4-2-2), who outshot the Anteaters (5-1-2), 14-8, for the match, stretched their unbeaten streak to a five games.
After allowing UC Irvine three shots in the first 11:18, SDSU took control the rest of the way and had 11 of the next 13 attempts in the game.
Aztec senior Kraig Chiles (San Diego/Poway HS) had a game-high five shots and narrowly missed a goal on two attempts - one in the 27th minute and another in the 59th minute. Sophomore Evan Toft contributed four shots, including a blast from 23 yards out late in the first half that just cleared the right post.
Junior Dennis Sanchez and freshman Raymundo Reza added two shots apiece for San Diego State, which owned a 7-3 advantage in regulation corner kicks.
It was the fourth shutout in the last five matches for freshman Brad Byrns and the SDSU defense. Over that span, the Aztecs have outscored their opponents, 7-1, with a 62-36 shot advantage, including a 28-14 edge on net.
The San Diego State defense of juniors Myles Davis and Danny Ortiz, sophomores Nick Cardenas and Matt McManus and Reza all played well, limiting the Anteaters, who came into Saturday averaging 2.00 goals per game, to just four shots on goal.
Byrns played all 110 minutes in net for SDSU and made four saves, including a quality save to his right early in the first half. Byrns is now 4-1-2 on the season with a 0.65 goals against average and four shutouts.
San Diego State will open its Pac-10 schedule with a game against No. 7 UCLA at 2 p.m. Saturday. There will be a special halftime ceremony honoring the Aztecs' 1987 NCAA runner-up squad with the annual alumni game slated for 11 a.m. Sunday.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sophomore Evan Toft earned Man of the Match honors for his quality play in the midfield. Toft has four shots and controlled the pace of play for most of the game.