Oct. 1, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
The 22nd-ranked San Diego State men's soccer team scored first, but gave up two set piece goals in a 2-1 loss to Oregon State Friday at SDSU SportsDeck. The loss snapped the Aztecs' (6-2-1, 0-1-0 Pac-10) seven-match unbeaten streak.
SDSU got on the scoreboard at the 21:28 mark when senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) took a pass from redshirt junior Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) and touched it into the far post from nine yards past the Beaver (6-2-0, 1-0-0 Pac-10) goalkeeper Steve Spangler. Sophomore Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) began the play with a throw-in to Adan's feet.
OSU answered in the 36th minute when Roberto Farfan sent a long set piece near the San Diego State bench into the box, where Travis Sanchez used his left thigh to hit it into the upper-left corner from about eight yards.
The goal was one of Oregon State's few scoring chances in the first half, as the Aztecs' possession style led to the better opportunities. Reza had the first chance for either team in the eighth minute when his attempt from 23 yards was deflected out of bounds by Spangler (6-2-0). Altamirano drove the ball down the right side to redshirt junior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)), who dribbled into the box and sent the ball back for Reza's hard shot.
In the 23rd minute, true freshman Sean Zaher (Las Vegas, Nev.) nearly made it 2-0, SDSU, but his attempt from 20 yards just missed the upper-right corner. Zaher had another quality chance in the 30th minute when he took a pass from classmate tin_tyrone00.html" >Tyrone Martin (Indianapolis, Ind.) and broke down the right side. Spangler cut off the angle nicely in net and was able to come up with the save.
San Diego State took a 9-6 advantage in shots and 3-2 edge in corner kicks into halftime intermission.
In the 70th minute, Reza volleyed a cross hard, but right at Spangler from around 19 yards out.
The Beavers broke the 1-1 tie a minute later, thanks to a long throw-in from Brian Ramsey. Ramsey's throw found Chris Harms in the box and Harms flicked a header back to a wide-open Farfan, who finished into the left corner from eight yards.
In the 75th minute, Sanchez headed a corner kick toward the Aztec net, but a defender headed it off the crossbar and cleared it out of harm's way. It was the common theme for OSU, as most of its chances came off set pieces.
SDSU's last good chance game in the 84th minute, but redshirt freshman Jordan Ongaro's (Edmonton, Alberta) left-footed volley from 30 yards narrowly missed the crossbar.
San Diego State outshot Oregon State, 15-11, while the latter had the 7-5 advantage in corner kicks.
True freshman Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) had four shots in just 47 minutes off the bench for the Aztecs, while Reza (three on net) and Ongaro (two on net) each had three attempts. Davies and senior captain Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) chipped in with two shots apiece.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) made three saves in 90 minutes for SDSU. Byrns' (6-2-1) scoreless streak was stopped at 316 minutes, 58 seconds with the Sanchez goal in the 36th minute. Spangler, meanwhile, had four saves in the Beaver net.
San Diego State plays host to No. 23 Washington at 1 p.m. PT Sunday. Admission will be free for the event and all fans will receive a free black SDSU seat cushion, presented by Associated Students.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) earned Man of the Match honors for his attacking play. Reza scored the game's first goal on his first shot in the 22nd minute, beating the Beaver goalkeeper from nine yards out. He finished the match with three shots (all on net) and now has a team-best 16 points this season on six goals and four assists in just nine games.