Nov. 14, 2009
LOS ANGELES -
The San Diego State men's soccer took a 1-0 lead midway through the second half but had to settle for a 1-1, double-overtime tie at fifth-ranked UCLA Saturday night at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles. Playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, the Aztecs finished their regular season with a 6-6-6 record (3-4-3 Pac-10). They will now await a possible NCAA tournament bid as the field of 48 will be released on ESPNews at 2:30 p.m. PT Monday.
With the draw, SDSU is now 3-0-2 against top-15 teams this season, 2-1-3 on the road and 1-0-2 on opponent's Senior Day. In addition, San Diego State finished the regular season 2-0-2 versus top-10 teams and is now 6-1-5 against top-10 schools since it joined the Pac-10 in 2005. With its 11th overtime match of the season, the program tied an NCAA record, originally set in 2003 by St. Louis.
The Aztecs took a 1-0 lead in the 75th minute when redshirt senior Matt McManus (Santa Clarita, Calif.) took a pass from junior Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) and ripped a shot that deflected off a Bruin (10-3-4, 5-1-4 Pac-10) defender and into the back of the net. McManus' fourth career goal against UCLA marked the third time SDSU has taken a lead against the Pac-10 champs this season. In its earlier meeting in San Diego on Oct. 11, San Diego State held 1-0 and 2-1 leads before settling for a 2-2 tie while playing a man down over the final 27:52.
But the Bruins battled back and eventually tied the match at the 83:32 mark when Kyle Nakazawa finished a header off assists from Michael Stephens and Luis Serrano.
The Aztecs outshot the Bruins, 15-12, for the match, including an 8-5 advantage on net.
Redshirt senior Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.) had San Diego State's first good opportunity less than seven minutes in when he raced down the sideline and flicked a shot that was knocked down by UCLA goalkeeper Brian Perk and eventually corralled.
On the ensuing counterattack, the Bruins' Stephens let one fly from the left side but Aztec redshirt sophomore goalkeeper R.J. Smith (San Diego/UC Davis), making just his second start of the year, moved nicely to his left for the save.
In the 13th minute, UCLA's Nakazawa took a pass from Stephens, but his quality look was saved once again by a ready Smith.
Smith's immediate roll to the outside from his box began an SDSU run toward the Bruin net. Diouf laid a pass to senior Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS). Ortega settled it and pushed it to his right foot, but his shot was low and right at Perk.
San Diego State kept up its offensive pressure, which almost led to goals in the 27th and 29th minute. Senior preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) had the first crack when his header off an Ortega corner kick missed just right of the near post. About two minutes later, redshirt senior Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS) flicked a header directly at Perk.
The Aztecs mounted the next attack off a UCLA turnover, but redshirt McManus had his shot fired right at Perk again.
SDSU took the 0-0 game into intermission with a slight 7-6 edge in shots, while Bruins had the 2-1 corner kick advantage.
Each team battled for position in the early going of the second half until Cardenas started the attack for both teams. His header off a corner kick by freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) went wide left of the post in the 57th minute.
Minutes later, San Diego State took it the length of the field and almost took the lead on a well-played drive. Diouf ended up with the ball on the left side and sent a pass to a breaking Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS). Altamirano turned, juked a UCLA defender and shot a low shot that was stopped by Perk.
On the other end, David Estrada had a good look at a header but pushed it over the crossbar and wide left.
It was the Aztecs' turn to get a good opportunity in the 65th minute as redshirt freshman Chance Marden (Fremont, Calif.) sent a laser from 25 yards out that was stopped by a diving Perk. In the 67th minute, redshirt sophomore Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) fired a shot just outside the box but it slid left out of bounds.
It was only time until SDSU scored and it happened in the 75th minute with McManus' second goal of the season. Nakazawa answered, however, for the Bruins with his 11th tally in the 84th minute.
San Diego State would get the last chance of the second half when a player was fouled and Ortega was awarded a free kick. With nine seconds left, Ortega bent the ball around the UCLA wall toward the lower right corner, but Perk dove to his left for the game-saving stop, forcing the game into overtime.
The Bruins' Ryan Hollingshead had the first extra-session attempt from just inside 18 yards but Smith was there for the diving save.
Ortega let one rip in the 99th minute from 30 yards but it went well high of the crossbar, pushing the match into a second overtime.
Neither team had a quality attempt in the final overtime as the two squads played to a double-overtime tie for the fifth consecutive time in Los Angeles.
Ortega led all players with five shots (two on net), while Cardenas and McManus (two on net) each added two attempts.
Smith (0-0-2) might of had his best game as an Aztec, making four saves of 110 minutes to lower his goals against average to a team-best 1.23. On the other side, Perk was called upon to make seven stops.
MEN OF THE MATCH: The entire Aztec team was awarded the Men of the Match for their outstanding performance in an unfriendly environment. Playing on UCLA's Senior Day, SDSU outshot the hosts, 15-12, including an 8-5 advantage on net to earn the tie. With the draw, San Diego State is now postseason eligible and will find out if it will make the NCAA tournament Monday on ESPNews at 2:30 p.m. PT.