Sept. 19, 2008
Box Score in PDF Format | Final Stats | Video Highlights | Photo Gallery
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team fell to UC Irvine, 2-0, Friday afternoon in the first game of the SDSU/USD Soccer Tournament at SDSU Sports Deck. The loss drops the Aztecs to 2-3-0, while the Anteaters, who are receiving votes in the latest NSCAA/adidas poll, remain undefeated at 5-0-2.
UC Irvine got on the board 4:59 into the match off a play set up by Amani Walker. Walker sent a low ball across the box to Kevin Santora, who tucked it into the left corner from 12 yards.
SDSU had two scoring opportunities midway through the first half. However, both chances by freshman Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) (18th minute) and junior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) (19th minute) were stopped by Anteater goalkeeper Andrew Fontein (2-0-1).
Toft almost tied the game in the 28th minute, but his blast from just outside the box bounced off the post.
UC Irvine struck for its second goal at the 66:13 mark when Spencer Thompson dribbled into the box on the left side and fired a shot to the left side of the net from about 10 yards.
Quality scoring opportunities in the second half went to Toft, junior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) and redshirt senior Nick Collins (Paso Robles, Calif.). Cardenas arguably had the best chance when Toft sent in a bending ball to the far post late in the half. However, Cardenas' just missed his diving header attempt that most likely would have found the net.
Toft had a team-high three shots to pace the San Diego State offense, while Steres and sophomore Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) had two attempts apiece. Redshirt freshman R.J. Smith (San Diego, Calif./Granite Hills HS/UC Davis) (0-2-0) made a season-high four saves in his second start of the year.
San Diego State will play No. 23 UC Davis at 1 p.m. Sunday at SDSU Sports Deck.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Junior Hermann Award Watch List member Nick Cardenas was named the Man of the Match for his efforts on the defensive side of the ball. A Thornton, Colo., native, Cardenas played all 90 minutes in the back, continually dominating play in the air, especially in the Aztec box.