Sept. 1, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Loyola Marymount in the season opener Tuesday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck.
The Aztecs (0-1-0) got on the scoreboard 20 minutes, 36 seconds into the game when sophomore Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) was on a receiving end of two perfect passes. On the play, freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.), who was one of two freshman starters for 10th-year head coach Lev Kirshner, dribbled the ball down the right side and slid a pass to senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.). Toft then flicked a pass to Steres, who tucked the ball into the net for his fourth career goal.
It appeared SDSU would add to its lead moments later when junior Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) just barely missed on two shots attempts. On the first, Reza had his 15-yard shot saved by the diving Lion (1-0-0) goalkeeper Patrick Sampson. At the 21:32 mark, Reza had another attempt that would have gone into the net had it not been for a heads-up play by a LMU defender, who cleared the ball out of harm's way.
On the counterattack, Kyle Johanson sent a long pass to a breaking Rafael Baca. Baca dribbled down the left side and beat San Diego State redshirt junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) to the near post to tie the game up at 1-1.
The Aztecs controlled the first half but were unable to get any more scores across the goal line. Freshman Devon Sandoval (Albuquerque, N.M.) had three solid attempts, including a breakaway in the 36th minute on a through pass from classmate Jose Altamirano (San Diego, Calif./Southwest HS) that was kick-saved by Sampson. Sandoval also had a header that just missed the crossbar in the second minute and a blast from just inside the box at the 7:45 mark that was saved by a diving Sampson.
Redshirt senior Jamel Wallace (San Diego, Calif./Oceanside HS) had his header stopped by a Loyola Marymount defender near the goal line. It was one of 10 shots for SDSU in the first half compared to the Lions' two attempts. San Diego State also dominated the corner kick battle, 7-1.
Early in the second half, LMU's Phil Da Silva took advantage of an Aztec misclear, raced down the left sideline and sent in a cross to Baca. Baca knocked the ball into the lower-left corner for his second goal of the match and eventual game-winner.
San Diego State came back with a late rally over the final five minutes, highlighted by aggressive plays by Altamirano and Toft. The score would remain the same, however, as Loyola Marymount finished with the 2-1 victory.
The Aztecs, who held a 15-10 advantage in shots and a 7-2 lead in corner kicks, received a game-high four shot attempts by Reza, including two on net, and three apiece by Sandoval (two on goal) and Toft. Steres fired both of his attempts on net, while Altamirano, senior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) and Wallace each had one shot.
Byrns (0-1-0) played all 90 minutes and made two saves for SDSU, while Sampson had five stops for the Lions.
San Diego State will play host to its alumni in the annual Alumni Game on Saturday at 1 p.m., before meeting local derby San Diego at 1 p.m. Sunday.