Sept. 24, 2010
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SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team stretched its unbeaten streak to six games with a 3-0 victory over Houston Baptist Friday at SDSU Sports Deck. Freshman Sean Zaher (Las Vegas, Nev.), senior Michael Rocha (Pasadena, Calif.) and graduate student Falke Verwer (Delft, Netherlands) each scored goals for the Aztecs (5-1-1), who are off to their best start since 2005 (6-0-1).
SDSU, which is receiving votes in both the NSCAA/HendrikCars.com and Soccer Times polls, outshot the Huskies (2-3-1), 18-7, including an 11-3 advantage on net.
San Diego State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Zaher took a pass from senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) at the 1:01 mark and touched it inside the left post from 14 yards for the eventual game-winner. It was Zaher's first career goal.
The Aztecs had numerous scoring opportunities the rest of the half, beginning in the 11th minute when redshirt junior Justin Davies' (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) attempt from 20 yards on the right side was deflected out of bounds by HBU goalkeeper Chris Dodd. Not even a minute later, freshman defender Tyrone Martin (Indianapolis, Ind.) stole a Houston Baptist pass and sent a ball to senior captain Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal). Diouf broke down the left side but his shot was stopped by Dodd, who came out of the net for the save. In the 37th minute, redshirt freshman Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) one-touched a cross wide left of the net from about 12 yards.
The Huskies' best chance in the first half came in the third minute but Adam Jakle's 20-yard shot went right to SDSU redshirt senior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.).
After 45 minutes, San Diego State held an 8-3 lead in shots and a 4-0 edge in corner kicks.
It was more of the same for the Aztecs in the second half. In the 54th minute, Ongaro took a flick pass from redshirt sophomore Chance Marden (Fremont, Calif.) but his shot from 16 yards was knocked down by Dodd. Rocha then pounced on the rebound and knocked it in for his second goal of the season.
Marden tried to add to the lead in the 58th minute when Ongaro sent in a low cross to his feet, but Marden's one-touch attempt was blocked by a Houston Baptist defender. In the 65th minute, Ongaro's header from a Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore.) cross went right at Dodd.
SDSU's persistence paid off at the 65:31 mark when, similar to the team's second goal, Verwer scored off a rebound. On the play, redshirt junior Andre Acevedo (San Diego/Eastlake HS) ripped a free kick past the Husky wall from 27 yards that was stopped by a diving Dodd. Verwer, who had entered the game a little over two minutes earlier, finished into the left corner for his first goal at San Diego State.
HBU had its best chance of the match in the 75th minute when Kristopher Tyrpak got by the Aztec defense and broke towards the net. Byrns (5-1-1) came out to challenge, forcing Tyrpak's 10-yard attempt to go wide right of the net, keeping the shutout intact.
Byrns played all 90 minutes and made three saves in his third shutout of the season. He is now 19-8-7 (.662) as a starter over his career.
Ongaro set career highs in shots (five) and shots on goal (three), while Marden and Rocha added two attempts apiece SDSU, which outcornered Houston Baptist, 7-3.
San Diego State continues its play in the University of San Diego/Nike Cup at noon PT Sunday against Albany.
MAN OF THE MATCH: True freshman Tyrone Martin (Indianapolis, Ind.) earned Man of the Match honors for his play in the back. Martin and the Aztec defense limited the Huskies to just seven shots (three on goal). Martin, who has played all 651 minutes this season, also created a few scoring opportunity from the backline, including a pass that led to Khadim Diouf's (Dakar, Senegal) breakaway chance in the first half.