Sept. 11, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team gave up a late regulation goal and had to settle for a 2-2, double-overtime tie with Univ. of Pennsylvania Friday afternoon in the first game of the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament.
The Aztecs (0-2-1) had rallied from a one-goal deficit to take a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals by freshman Devon Sandoval (Albuquerque, N.M.) and senior preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) early in the second half. The Quakers (0-1-2), however, tied the match in the 86th minute on a score by Alex Tuch, and neither team would find the back of the net over the final 10-minute overtimes.
SDSU had the first good scoring opportunity 9 minutes, 55 seconds into the game, when senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) took a pass from redshirt senior Kevin Werbner (Manchester, Conn.), juked a Penn defender and blasted a left-footed knuckler just outside the box. Univ. of Pennsylvania goalkeeper Ben Berg was able to get two hands on it and keep the match scoreless.
Minutes later, redshirt senior Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS) had his close range header attempt waived off because of an offsides call, one of 10 San Diego State offside plays in the contest.
In the 26th minute, Toft had a shot blocked, but freshman Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) pounced on the loose ball and had his hard attempt stopped by the diving Quaker goalkeeper. Shortly thereafter, Berg made another big save on junior Raymundo Reza's (Denver, Colo.) upper-ninety shot from about 22 yards away.
Penn settled down and, on the ensuing counterattack, got on the scoreboard when Zach Barnett's long throw-in was flicked by Alex Takakuwa's head past Aztec redshirt junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) at the 27:36 mark.
SDSU mounted one last attack in the final minutes of the first half, but Sandoval was unable to get off a quality attempt. Redshirt sophomore Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) corralled the rebound but blistered his shot well-high of the frame.
San Diego State went into halftime intermission with a 9-7 lead in shots with each team registering two corner kicks.
It was all Aztecs early in the second half as they controlled the possession and had the better scoring opportunities as well. Senior Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS) may have surprised the Univ. of Pennsylvania goalkeeper 1:27 after the break when he blasted a hard shot from 25 yards. Berg knocked the ball down four yards in front of him and grabbed it before SDSU's Sandoval could get off a shot.
Sandoval didn't have a problem getting to the next ball in the 48th minute as Ortega sent a well-placed pass through the Quaker defense right to his foot, where he calmly tucked the ball into the left corner for his first collegiate goal.
San Diego State didn't rest on its laurels and took advantage of its next good chance just 4:08 later. Freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Calif.) began the scoring play by taking a short corner kick to Adan. Adan then sent in a ball to the far post to Cardenas, who headed the ball into the upper-left corner to put the Aztecs up, 2-1.
Sandoval almost put the game away in the 66th minute after redshirt sophomore Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) got free through the right side and sent a low cross through the Penn defense. But Sandoval's attempt just missed the left corner, keeping the score at 2-1.
It appeared the final score would finish at 2-1 until Univ. of Penn made a last-ditch attempt at tying the game in the 86th minute. On the play, Tobi Olopade beat SDSU defender and sent in a cross in front of the net, where Tuch finished into the right corner.
Neither team would score over the two 10-minute overtimes. San Diego State's best chance in the extra periods came 44 seconds into the second overtime but Sacco's header off a Sandoval cross missed high and wide right.
The Aztecs, who outshot the Quakers, 18-16, received four attempts apiece from Sandoval and Toft. Adan and Ortega each added two shots, while Altamirano, Cardenas and Reza each put their attempt on net.
Nineteen different players logged minutes for SDSU, including all 110 minutes by upperclassmen Byrns, Cardenas, Reza, Toft and Wallace.
Byrns (0-2-1) made a game-high five saves for San Diego State, including finger-tip diving stop on Tuch's attempt with 3:32 remaining in the second overtime.
The Aztecs wrap up their play in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament Sunday with a match against Wisconsin, beginning at 1 p.m.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) earned his second consecutive Man of the Match honors for his stellar play in the backline. A tri-captain, Cardenas rallied the team together after an early 1-0 deficit to score the team's second goal on a diving header into the upper-left corner. He also dominated the box, winning ball after ball with his physical play.