Sept. 6, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team couldn't overcome an early deficit on an own goal in a 1-0 loss to San Diego Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs dropped to 0-2-0 with the loss, while the Toreros improved to 2-0-0.
USD took advantage of the first scoring opportunity of the game in the 15th minute on a play set-up by Andrew Feld. Feld dribbled down the left side and fired a shot that was stopped by SDSU redshirt junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.). A San Diego State defender, however, accidently knocked the ball into the net for an own goal.
The Aztecs had their chances, including two good opportunities in the first half. In the 20th minute, freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) found himself free on the left side after a nifty move past a Torero defender. USD goalkeeper Kelin Briones was able to close down the angle and stop Sacco's high shot attempt.
At the 33:21 mark, Briones came up with another save when SDSU senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) ripped a volley off a Sacco corner kick right into Briones' stomach from 16 yards.
At halftime, San Diego was leading the shot battle, 7-6, but San Diego State had the majority of the corner kicks (4-3).
The Aztecs came out firing in the second half, including an impressive sequence in the 56th minute that culminated with senior Daniel Ortega's (San Diego/Eastlake HS) long left-footed shot from 25 yards away saved by Briones. Redshirt sophomores Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) and Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS), and freshman Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) each displayed crisp passes and evasive dribbling during the run.
In the 60th minute, sophomore Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) sent in a ball toward the box that was knocked out to a waiting Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.). Reza then blasted a 25-yard shot low to the left side that was covered up nicely by the Torero's Briones.
SDSU arguably had its best chance to score minutes later, when Altamirano beat two USD defenders on the left side and sent a low ball to a streaking Sacco. Sacco was unable to get off a solid attempt on the play and another San Diego defender hit the ball out of the box to San Diego State's Ortega. Ortega gathered the rebound but put a shot right at Briones from 18 yards out.
In the final minute of the game, Aztec senior tri-captain Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) appeared to be taken down in the box, but no call was made on the play.
SDSU outshot USD, 15-14, including a 9-5 advantage of shots on net. The Toreros had nine corner kicks to San Diego State's seven.
Byrns (0-2-0) made five saves in 90 minutes for the Aztecs, including a diving stop in the 40th minute on Conor McFadden's attempt and another key save in the 79th minute on Patrick Wallen. Briones (2-0-0) was counted on to make nine saves over 90 minutes.
SDSU plays host to The Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament from Sept. 11-13. San Diego State will meet Univ. of Pennsylvania at 4 p.m. Friday and Wisconsin at 1 p.m. Sunday.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior tri-captain and College Soccer News preseason All-American Nick Cardenas was named Man of the Match. Cardenas, who led the Aztecs last season in minutes played, played all 90 minutes and had one shot (on goal). He displayed good in-air skills and patrolled SDSU's defensive box nicely in the 1-0 loss.