Nov. 19, 2008
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -
The San Diego State men's soccer team had seven student-athletes named to the all-Pac-10 Conference team, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. The seven selections are tied with the 2006 squad for the most in San Diego State's four-year history of the Pac-10.
Despite exceeding preseason predictions for the fourth consecutive season to finish third in conference play, no Aztec was named to the first team. Three players, however, garnered second-team accolades, including junior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo./Horizon HS), junior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS) and redshirt junior Jamel Wallace (San Diego, Calif./Oceanside HS).
Senior co-captain Dennis Sanchez (Redmond, Wash./Bishop Manogue HS) led a group of four San Diego State players who earned honorable mention honors. He was joined by redshirt junior Matt McManus (Santa Clarita, Calif./Canyon HS), and sophomores Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal/Suffield Academy (Conn.)) and Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo./John F. Kennedy HS).
Cardenas, who is on the M.A.C. Hermann Award Watch List, was named to the second team for the third consecutive season. A defender, Cardenas tallied a career-high four assists while leading the team in minutes played (1,646) for the second straight year. He has earned NSCAA/adidas all-Far West honors in both 2006 (second team) and 2007 (third team).
Toft was picked for the second team for the second year in a row after leading the squad with six assists. He was also second with 12 points and led the team with 40 shots. In league play, Toft had one goal and three helpers. Toft is the Aztec career active leader in points (25) and assists (15).
Wallace earned second-team accolades after being picked as an honorable mention selection a year ago. Wallace had three goals and an assist despite seeing a lot of time in the back. He started all 17 games he played and recorded two game-winning goals. Over his three-year career (he redshirted in 2006), Wallace has started 49 of his 52 appearances.
Sanchez, one of two captains, started 17 of his 18 appearances and scored one goal and added an assist. Sanchez, who also grabbed honorable mention honors in 2006, played the second-most minutes on the squad (1,427) while attempting 17 shots. San Diego State will miss Sanchez' experience (66 career starts in 72 games).
McManus had a breakout season after moving from strictly a defender to a scoring threat in the front. McManus was second on the team with five goals and was third with 11 points. McManus tallied his five goals on just 22 shots for a 22.7 shot percentage, which ranked second on the team. McManus had a career day against UCLA on Oct. 5, when he tallied two goals in a 3-3 double-overtime tie. The following Tuesday, he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week.
Diouf followed up his fantastic freshman season with another good campaign in 2008 to pick up his second honorable mention selection. Despite being marked by opponents much tougher than his freshman season, Diouf still managed to score three times, while attempting 31 shots (third on the team). Over his career, Diouf has eight career goals, including four game-winners.
Reza was picked as an honorable mention selection despite finishing tied for second in the league goals per game (1.17) and fourth in points per match (1.11). Reza was the only player among the top five in points per game to be left off the first team. Reza finished the season with eight goals and four assists for 20 points, the most by an Aztec since Aaron Susi recorded 21 points in 1996. In league play, Reza was tied for eighth with eight points on three goals and two helpers.
San Diego State finished the season with a 6-9-3 overall record, including a 3-4-3 mark in the Pac-10. Seven of San Diego State's 13 opponents made the NCAA tournament, with three earning seeds in the tourney.
2008 Pac-10 Awards
Pac-10 Players of the Year
Michael Stephens, MF, UCLA
Pac-10 Freshman of the Year
Danny Mwanga, F, Oregon State
Pac-10 Coach of the Year
Jorge Salcedo, UCLA
First Team
Name, Pos., Yr., School
Raphael Cox, MF, Sr., Washington
Stefan Frei, GK, Jr., California
Maxwell Griffin, F, Sr., UCLA
Hector Jimenez, MF, So., California
George John, MF, Sr., Washington
Jason Leopoldo, MF, Sr., UCLA
Brad Rusin, D, Sr., UCLA
Michael Stephens, MF, Jr., UCLA
Michael Strickland, MF, Jr., Stanford
Bobby Warshaw, MF/F, So., Stanford
Andrew Wiedeman, F, So., California
Second Team
Name, Pos., Yr., School
Tyler Barry, D, Sr., California
Nick Cardenas, D, Jr., San Diego State
Servando Carrasco, MF, So., California
Ryan Imamura, D, Sr., Stanford
Daniel Leach, D, Sr., Oregon State
Taylor Mueller, D, So., Washington
Danny Mwanga, F, Fr., Oregon State
Brian Perk, GK, Jr., UCLA
A.J. Soares, D, So., California
Evan Toft, MF/F, Jr., San Diego State
Jamel Wallace, D/MF, Jr., San Diego State
Honorable Mention (received votes):
Ryan Callahan (Sr., MF, Oregon State); Robby Christner (Sr., F, Oregon State); Casey Cunningham (Jr., D, Washington); Khadim Diouf (So., F, San Diego State); David Estrada (Jr., F, UCLA); Garrett Gunther (So., MF, Stanford); Taylor Hoss (Jr., MF, Washington); Tim Jones (Sr., D, Stanford); Jo Jo Katz (Jr., MF, Washington); Pat Marion (Sr., MF, California); Matt McManus (Jr., D/F, San Diego State); Mike Miller (Jr., GK, Oregon State); John Moore (Jr., GK, Stanford); Davis Paul (So., F, California); Raymundo Reza (So., MF, San Diego State); Brent Richards (Fr., F, Washington); Andy Rose (Fr., D/MF, UCLA); Dennis Sanchez (Sr., D, San Diego State); Danny Suits (Jr., D/MF, UCLA); Ryan Thomas (So., D/MF, Stanford); Jacob Wilson (Jr., F, California).