Sept. 3, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Video Preview
Optimism is at an all-time high on The Mesa for San Diego State men's soccer.
The 2007 Aztecs finished runner-up in the Pac-10 for the second straight season and posted their third consecutive winning campaign for the first time since 1990-92. On the year, SDSU went 3-1-2 against nationally ranked teams and 2-2-3 versus 2006 NCAA tournament opponents.
Best of all, San Diego State returns 10 of its 11 starters and 23 players from last year's runner-up squad, including five all-conference selections. Throw in another impact recruiting class and a top notch schedule and one can see why Aztec men's soccer is the talk of the town.
"The excitement in the program right now is enormous," ninth-year head coach Lev Kirshner said. "Every year we keep saying we're better. I don't know how long we can keep going with this, but this is unquestionably the best team and best talent we've ever had.
"That being said, last season was a bit of a disappointment, in that we did not make the NCAA tournament. Another runner-up finish in the Pac-10 was phenomenal, but we lost some games that we never should have with the way our team was playing. Those low points ultimately stopped us from having a postseason."
Kirshner is looking forward to the good mix of veteran leadership and talented newcomers that will dot the 2008 roster. Of the 27 on the initial roster, there are six seniors, six juniors, six sophomores and 11 freshmen.
"What's impressive about this team is that even with 10 starters and 23 players returning, we've got players coming in this recruiting class who could end up starting," Kirshner said. "They're that good. Talent and depth are two critical ingredients to winning championships and we have them both. Now we need to find out how much will, desire, and discipline we have."
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2008 San Diego State men's soccer team:
Goalkeepers
If there is one question on this year's team, it's who is going to be the starting goalkeeper in the season-opener against Michigan?
Three different Aztecs - Brad Byrns, Jorge Rosales and Ryan Bowie - saw action last season because of injuries. The trio performed fine in net, combining to post an 8-7-4 record with a 1.09 goals against average and seven shutouts.
Byrns, a redshirt sophomore, seems to have the edge after earning honorable mention all-Pac-10 accolades in 2007, posting a 6-1-2 record with a 0.73 goals against average (sixth-lowest in school history) and five shutouts. Byrns started nine of the first 10 games before going down with a season-ending injury in the waning moments of the team's 3-2 victory over eventual Pac-10 champion California on Oct. 12.
"Brad was phenomenal in net and the ultimate record of our team shows that he is a significant factor for us," Kirshner said. "Unfortunately, he may not be 100 percent by Sept. 5. But goalkeeping has never been a concern here as we have one of the best goalkeeping coaches in the nation in Matt Hall."
Rosales, who became the starter after Byrns went down, saw action in nine contests, going 2-5-2 with two shutouts and a 1.38 goals against average.
"Jorge got plenty of gametime for us last year and got tons of experience," Kirshner said. "I definitely expect him to challenge for the starting job."
Other players in the mix include a pair of redshirt freshmen in Morgan Maestas and R.J. Smith, a transfer from UC Davis.
"Morgan Maestas had an extraordinary spring for us with three consecutive shutouts to close out the year," Kirshner said. "At 6-4 and 195 pounds, Smith boasts many physical similarities to Tally (Hall). Both these guys have nothing but potential."
Defenders
The strength of the SDSU team appears to once again be the defense. Last season, the backline combined to allow just 10.3 shots per game and shut out seven opponents.
However, it will be the experience and depth that will lead the defense as the starting quartet of senior co-captains Danny Ortiz and Dennis Sanchez, junior Nick Cardenas and redshirt junior Steve Beitashour will start for the third straight season.
"If we have a great strength, it is in our back four," Kirshner said. "It's the same backline that started for us in 2007 with two of those being senior captains and one being a two-time all-Far West pick. And Steve will be a pro in my opinion."
Captains Ortiz and Sanchez have been regulars in the back for the Aztecs, starting almost every game over the past two campaigns.
"I can't be any happier with having Danny represent our program," Kirshner said. "This is everything you want in an Aztec - a good student, a good athlete, a great person, a talented player and a phenomenal leader. He deserves to captain this team."
"Dennis is a mainstay in the progra and that's one of the reasons why he is wearing the armband," Kirshner added. "He has been a four-year starter who has played in numerous positions. His workrate is tireless and he will do whatever it takes to win games."
Cardenas returns for his third season as a two-time NSCAA/adidas all-Far West pick and all-Pac-10 selection. Over his career, Cardenas has eight goals and two assists for 18 points, all from the backline.
"Nick is obviously our most decorated player in recent times," Kirshner said. "He is a force in the air and is a winner. Hopefully Nick can stay healthy and continue to build on the career he has established his first two seasons here."
Beitashour made a big impact for the Aztecs in 2007 with three assists, while playing the majority of the games all over the field.
"Steven is without question our best 1-v-1 player, and that is on both sides of the ball," Kirshner said. "He is one of our best athletes, understands the individual parts of the game and has grown into a very good team tactician."
Beitashour could also see playing time in the midfield, which would create more playing time for redshirt senior Myles Davis, a former member of the U-17 Canadian National Team. Last season, Davis started 16 of the 18 games he played in, mostly from the left back position.
"Myles comes in with a tremendous amount of international experience," Kirshner said. "He can play in the center of the park for us or at the left back position."
Other defenders on the team include sophomore  Andre Acevedo, St. John's redshirt freshman transfer Danny Stott, redshirt freshman Gemechu Abraham, and freshmen Chance Marden and Daniel Steres.
Midfielders
Despite the loss of three-time leading scorer and current Chivas USA player Kraig Chiles, the midfielders should be in good shape in 2008.
"Certainly losing a pro will be tough," Kirshner said. "I'm not counting on any individual; the team has to pick up the loss. We know we will lose pros within our program so we bring in good recruits to fill those needed areas."
Evan Toft will be the face of the SDSU midfield after leading the 2007 Aztecs with five assists en route to a second-team all-Pac-10 selection. Toft is coming off a solid spring and will be counted on to lead the team's offense.
"I thought Evan had a marvelous spring, arguably the best on our team," Kirshner said. "Going into his junior year, he is going to be expected to carry most of the weight in the midfield. It's time for him to have the breakout year he wants and knows he can have."
Another important part of the midfield will be redshirt junior Jamel Wallace. Last season, Wallace tallied three goals, the third-most on the squad, despite seeing time in the front, midfield and in the backline. For his efforts, he was named an honorable mention all-Pac-10 selection.
"Jamel is a winner and battles from the first minute to the last," Kirshner said. "He can play multiple positions and can win the game for us on both sides of the ball."
Sophomore Raymundo Reza comes back healthy and looks to have locked down the other holding midfield spot with Wallace. Reza earned 13 starts in his first season, the most of any freshman.
"Raymundo is a tremendous athlete, has great pace, great technique and is just a solid soccer player," Kirshner said. "We just need him to get tougher and more involved in our game to help us win championships."
Another player Kirshner thinks highly of is redshirtfreshman Justin Davies. Davies, the younger brother of former Boston College great Charlie Davies, joined the Aztecs as a spring semester admit and immediately made his presence known with a solid spring.
"Justin Davies is one of the freshmen coming in who has a chance to win a starting role," Kirshner said. "He is just a terrific athlete, who we hope will help our team sooner rather than later."
Other midfielders who will add depth include sophomore Michio Akazawa, redshirt freshman Pedro Adan and Santigui Tounkara, and true freshmen Joe Corona.
Forwards
Sophomore Khadim Diouf is the top returning scorer for SDSU, after recording 10 points on five goals in his first season in 2007. A clutch performer, three of the tallies were game-winners, helping Diouf to a honorable mention all-Pac-10 pick.
"Khadim obviously scored some big goals for us last year," Kirshner said. "He is a winner on the field and will help us do whatever it takes to win, whether it be slide tackling a defender or the game-winner in the 85th minute to beat UCLA."
Other players who could be in the mix up front include seniors Nick Collins and Kevin Werbner, redshirt junior Matt McManus and junior Danny Ortega.
Kirshner will be counting on the leadership skills of Collins and Werbner to help the fairly young offensive group. Both seniors will also see time in the midfield.
"Nick had a good spring for us and scored a couple of goals," Kirshner said. "He is very motivated to have a successful senior season to finish out his career.
"Kevin is a tenacious competitor," Kirshner added. "He is a great kid who will certainly get minutes to help us win games."
McManus started eight times in 2007 with a goal and three assists to his credit. Most of his playing time came in the back, but he could see action in the front line this season.
"Matt is such an influential player for us because he is a tireless worker," Kirshner said. "He has a long throw, is a beast in the air and his competition level is as high as anyone I have ever coached. He will see significant playing time for us this season."
Ortega played in 13 games with one start last year, after scoring two goals and adding an assist his first season in 2006.
"Danny is a great technician with one of the hardest shots on the team," Kirshner said. "He has really grabbed hold of our system and that's what we needed from him."
Michael Rocha should also compete for minutes in the front after a good spring and strong fall camp.
Schedule
Year after year the Aztecs play one of the toughest schedules on the West Coast and this year is certainly no exception.
The 2008 schedule may be the toughest of Kirshner's nine-year tenure as eight of the 18 games are against teams who made the 2007 NCAA tournament. In addition, nine of the contests are versus teams who finished the season with a 37 RPI rating or better.
"It is one of the best, if not the best, schedules we have had in San Diego State history in terms of quality, the diversity of teams we are playing and the breadth of the location of where we are playing," Kirshner said. "We would not do this if we didn't think our team was prepared for it."
San Diego State will co-host two tournaments this season, the inaugural The Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament (Sept. 5-7) and the SDSU/USD Tournament. In those games, SDSU will meet Big Ten power Michigan and Albany, then UC Irvine and 2007 NCAA tournament member UC Davis, respectively.
SDSU also travels to Denver, Colo., for games against Denver (Sept. 12) and Air Force (Sept. 14) before flying cross country for a game against perennial Ivy League power Dartmouth on Sept. 28.
The Aztecs begin their portion of the Pac-10 schedule on Oct. 5 at UCLA.
"We've always taking pride in having a tough schedule," Kirshner said. "Obviously playing in the Pac-10 makes our overall schedule that much better, and we are ready for this challenge."