Nov. 17, 2009
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - San Diego State senior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) led a group of 10 who were named to the all-Pac-10 team, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. Cardenas was chosen as a first-team pick, while juniors Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) and Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) were each named to the second team. In addition, seven Aztecs earned honorable mention accolades, including seniors Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.), Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS), Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) and Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS), sophomores Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) and Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.), and freshman Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS).
The 10 picks were the most in the conference and three more than SDSU has ever had in its five-year history with the Pac-10.
A preseason All-American by College Soccer News, Cardenas was picked as an all-conference selection for the fourth consecutive year after earning second-team honors from 2006-08. This season, the tri-captain started all 17 games he played in, tying for third on the team with nine points on four goals and an assist. In conference play, the three-time NSCAA all-Far West Region pick and 2006 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year scored three goals for six points.
Reza led the team in scoring for the second straight season with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Reza, who garnered honorable mention accolades a year ago, also finished first on the team in goals, shots (42) and shots on goal (19), while tying with Toft for two game-winning scores. Reza, who has started an Aztec-best 35 consecutive matches, had two multi-goal games in 2009 and had a team-high seven points (three goals, one assist) in league play.
Diouf's selection to the all-Pac-10 second team comes on the heals of being named an honorable mention pick in both 2007 and 2008. This year, Diouf had nine points on three goals and a career-high three assists. Diouf had one game-winning goal, bringing his career total to five, and was third on the team with 27 shots. He had four points on one goal and two assists in Pac-10 play.
After missing most of last season with an injury, Beitashour capped off his career with his first all-conference selection. One of the top 1-v-1 defenders in the Pac-10, Beitashour thwarted many attacks by opposing teams over the course of the season. He also added three assists, which tied his career high, including two in league action.
Ortega had a breakout final season on The Mesa, leading the team with seven assists, while ranking second in shots (30) and shots on goal (14). Ortega, who came into the year with seven points (three goals, two assists), had four assists over a three-match period from Oct. 16-23. His five assists against the Pac-10 led the league.
Despite missing all but two Pac-10 games during the season, Toft still earned honorable mention honors after being a second-team pick in 2007 and 2008. Toft finished second on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists while playing in just nine of San Diego State's 18 matches. He had 24 shots and two game-winning goals, while converting on his only penalty kick attempt.
Making his third straight appearance on the all-conference team (honorable mention in 2007, second team in 2008), Wallace had one goal and two points from his defensive midfield position. A tri-captain, he started 15 of the 17 games he played, including eight of the 10 Pac-10 matches. He had seven shots with three of them coming on net.
One of the emotional leaders on the team, Davies started 12 of his 16 appearances, including seven in Pac-10 matches. One of four Aztec defenders who made the team, Davies had two assists, three shots and one shot on goal. One of his helpers and one of his shot attempts came against Pac-10 competition.
Steres made his first all-conference squad after appearing in all 18 games with 17 starts to his credit. He scored in the team's season opener against Loyola Marymount and later added an assist. Steres finished the season with eight shots (four on net) and led the team with 1,653 minutes played. He started all 10 Pac-10 contests, recording one assist and four shots.
Altamirano picked up his first all-league selection after playing in all 18 games over the year, starting nine of them. Altamirano, one of just six freshmen of the 45-member all-conference team, registered four points on one goal and two assists. He added 17 shots, including six on net. Altamirano, whose 1,362 minutes played were the second most among non-defenders and goalkeepers, had three points (one goal, one assist) in league action.
Despite going 3-0-2 against top-15 teams, 2-0-2 versus the top 10, 2-1-3 on the road, and ranking 22nd of 204 teams in the final edition of the RPI (released Nov. 10), SDSU was left out of the NCAA tournament.
2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year
Danny Mwanga, F, So., Oregon State
2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year
Amobi Okugo, MF, Fr., UCLA
2009 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
Bret Simon, Stanford
2009 All-Pac-10 Team
First Team
Danny Mwanga, F, So., Oregon State
Kyle Nakazawa, MF, Sr., UCLA
Andrew Wiedeman, F, Jr., California
Michael Stephens, MF, Sr., UCLA
Bobby Warshaw, D, Jr., Stanford
David Estrada, MF, Sr., UCLA
Nick Cardenas, D, Sr., San Diego State
Brian Perk, GK, Sr., UCLA
Michael Strickland, MF, Sr., Stanford
Hector Jimenez, MF, RS-Jr., California
A.J. Soares, D, Jr., California
Second Team
David Bingham, GK, So., California
Taylor Muellar, MF, Jr., Washington
Amobi Okugo, MF, Fr., UCLA
Matt Van Houten, MF, Jr., Washington
Brent Richards, F, So., Washington
Servando Carrasco, MF, Jr., California
Adam Jahn, F, Fr., Stanford
Raymundo Reza, F, Jr., San Diego State
Evan Morgan, F, RS-Sr., Stanford
Colin Mitchell, MF, So., Oregon State
Khadim Diouf, MF, Jr., San Diego State
Honorable Mention
(SDSU players listed only)
Evan Toft, MF, Sr.
Steve Beitashour, D, RS-Sr.
Daniel Ortega, MF, Sr.
Daniel Steres, D, So.
Justin Davies, D, RS-So.
Jose Altamirano, MF, Fr.
Jamel Wallace, MF, RS-Sr.