Sept. 9, 2007
SAN DIEGO -
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The No. 22 San Diego State men's soccer team shut out Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-0, in the final game of The Soccer Post/Aztec Classic Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The victory was the first of the season for the Aztecs (1-2-1), who outshot the Knights (1-3), 14-4, for the match.
SDSU received goals from sophomore Nick Cardenas and sophomore Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS) in the win.
Cardenas, a third-team preseason All-American by College Soccer News, got San Diego State on the board in the 16th minute when he headed a shot into the left side of the net from just outside the goal mouth. Senior co-captain Kraig Chiles (San Diego/Poway HS) started the play when he sent a ball in from the left side to sophomore Matt McManus. McManus then headed the ball back to Cardenas for his team-leading second goal of the season.
Just over two minutes later, the Aztecs made it 2-0 when Wallace scored his first career collegiate goal at the 17:55 mark. Sophomore Evan Toft sent a low cross into the penalty box from the right side to a breaking Chiles. Chiles then flicked the ball back to Wallace who easily converted the goal into the wide-open net.
Chiles had a chance to put SDSU up three goals in the 31st minute but his left-footed blast was stopped by a diving FDU goalkeeper Elvir Prasovic. Prasovic made another quality save on a Cardenas header in the last four minutes of the first half to keep the Knights within two goals.
At the intermission, San Diego State owned a 7-1 lead in shots and 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
The Aztecs didn't have as many scoring chances in the second half, but did almost capitalize on their best chance in the 51st minute. Toft sent in a pass from the right side but junior Dennis Sanchez' header attempt missed the far post by inches.
SDSU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brad Byrns played all 90 minutes and did not make a save to earn his first collegiate shutout, while Prasovic was called upon to make four saves in the Knights' net.
San Diego State finished the match with 14 shots to FDU's four and also won the corner kick battle, 7-5.
Cardenas led all players with five shots, including three on net, while Chiles and Sanchez had three and two attempts, respectively.
The Aztecs finished with a 1-1 record in the classic, good enough for third place. San Diego went 2-0 to win its second consecutive classic, while NJIT (1-1) was second and FDU took fourth (0-2).
NJIT's Erik Magnusson was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player, while the Toreros' Colin Jennings picked up defensive MVP honors. Chiles and Toft each were named to the all-tournament team for SDSU.
San Diego State will wrap up its four-game homestand with a match against Cal State Bakersfield at 2 p.m. Saturday.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior co-captain Kraig Chiles earned his third Man of the Match honor of the season after picking up two assists in SDSU's 2-0 victory over FDU. He finished the game with three shots, including two on net.
The Soccer Post/Aztec Classic
Friday
NJIT 2, San Diego State 0
San Diego 2, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
Sunday
San Diego State 2, Fairleigh Dickinson 0
San Diego 2, NJIT 0
Final Placing
1. San Diego
2. NJIT
3. San Diego State
4. Fairleigh Dickinson
Offensive Most Valuable Player
Erik Magnusson, NJIT
Defensive Most Valuable Player
Colin Jennings, San Diego
All-Tournament Team
Kraig Chiles, San Diego State
Evan Toft, San Diego State
Tannen Wells, San Diego
Dustin Guerrero, San Diego
Kyle Ochoa, San Diego
Kelin Briones, San Diego
Devon Newton, NJIT
Gustav Warfving, NJIT
Robert Herrera, NJIT
Jonathan Yazo, FDU
Elvir Prasovic, FDU