Nov. 8, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Senior Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) scored a goal in his final regular season home game but the 25th-ranked San Diego State men's soccer team couldn't overcome two first half goals by Danny Mwanga in a 2-1 loss to Oregon State Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 6-6-5 and 3-4-2 in the Pac-10, while the Beavers improved to 8-6-3 and 4-4-1.
Three of SDSU's six seniors played a part in the goal, which came in the final minute of regulation. On the play, Matt McManus (Santa Clarita, Calif.) threw the ball in from the sideline to Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.), who passed it back to McManus. McManus then sent in a bending cross to Cardenas who headed it into the left-corner for his fourth goal of the season.
The trio was honored in a pregame ceremony, along with fellow seniors Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.), Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS) and Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS). Due to injuries, Sunday, the team's second-to-last regular season match of 2009, was the first time all six seniors have played together in a game this year. All six were projected starters in August.
Four minutes into the first half, Ortega sent in a long cross to junior Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.). Reza flicked the ball over an Oregon State defender but was unable to get off a quality shot.
In the 19th minute, redshirt sophomore Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) fired a low, line drive shot that was knocked down by the Beaver goalkeeper Steve Spangler. Wallace raced to the ball but was whistled for offsides before he could get off a shot.
Minutes later, OSU's Mwanga got a pass, turned and fired a shot toward the top of the net that was tipped over the crossbar by San Diego State redshirt junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.).
At the 22:59 mark, Mwanga took a pass from Travis Sanchez, beat an Aztec defender and Byrns, and knocked in a shot from close range.
In the 37th minute, Mwanga took advantage of a miscue by the SDSU defense. Mwanga grabbed the misclear and, after Byrns slipped and fell in the box, finished into the wide-open net for the eventual game-winner.
After starting out slow and giving up the two goals in the first half, San Diego State played much better in the second 45, outshooting OSU, 9-6 (5-2 on net), while attempting all seven corner kicks.
Wallace had the team's first good chance of the second half at 57:07 but his header was saved by a diving Spangler and tipped over the crossbar.
The Aztecs' arguably best chance came in the 61st minute. Reza completed a give-and-go with Cardenas inside the Oregon State box and laid a perfect pass to an awaiting sophomore Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.). Steres quick attempt, however, right in front of the net was saved by a prepared Spangler.
It looked like SDSU for sure had its first goal at the 65:30 mark when Cardenas' diving header off a McManus cross appeared to be going into the left corner. But Spangler made a great save, diving to his right to keep his shutout intact.
After narrowly missing the crossbar on another header in the 77th minute, Cardenas finished with his goal at 89:46.
For the match, San Diego State had the slight edge in shots (13-12) and shots on goal (7-6), and a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Cardenas had four shots to lead the Aztecs, while Toft and Reza had two attempts apiece. Byrns made four saves in 90 minutes for SDSU.
San Diego State wraps up its regular season Saturday in a game with postseason implications at nationally ranked UCLA at 7 p.m. PT. The Aztecs will need a result (win or tie) against the Bruins (10-3-3, 5-1-3 Pac-10), who are 6-0-1 at home this season and have already clinched the Pac-10 title, to be .500 or above and be eligible for the NCAA tournament.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Redshirt senior Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.) earned Man of the Match honors for his phenomenal play in the back. Beitashour, who also earned an assist on SDSU's goal, played all 90 minutes, thwarting two or three Oregon State offensive attacks. His solid play came in his final regular season home match of his career.