Oct. 30, 2010
FULLERTON, Calif. -
The San Diego State men's soccer team spotted host Cal State Fullerton a first half penalty kick goal, then erupted for four second half goals en route to a 4-1 victory Saturday night in Fullerton. The Aztecs, who are receiving votes in two national polls, improved to 9-5-2 with the win, while the Titans, who coming into the match were among the top four teams in the Big West vying for a trip to the conference tournament, dropped to 6-9-2.
SDSU, which is undefeated over the last three matches, won its ninth game of the season, its most since 2006. San Diego State outshot CSUF, 21-9, including a dominating 12-4 advantage on net. The Aztecs also won the corner kick battle, 7-3.
Kevin Venagas gave the hosts the lead in the 32nd minute when he converted on a penalty kick.
SDSU responded in the second 45 by scoring four unanswered goals over a 30 minute, 37 second span.
Freshman Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.), who scored his first career goal in San Diego State's 1-0 win over Stanford on Sunday, scored twice to pace the offense, while junior captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) and redshirt junior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School, Mass.) each added a goal.
Byass tied the game for the Aztecs in the 50th minute when he took advantage of a miscleared ball by a Cal State Fullerton defender and finished from 20 yards out.
At the 64:47 mark, Steres scored the game-winner off a set piece. Sophomore Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) and senior captain Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) each assisted on the goal.
Byass struck for the second time of the night in the 68th minute when he pounced on senior captain Raymundo Reza's (Denver, Colo.) original shot and finished inside the goal mouth.
Davis converted on a penalty kick in the 80th minute to give SDSU the 4-1 win.
Reza had a game-high eight shots, while Davies (five) and Byass (four) each broke the four-shot barrier. Byass put all four of his attempts on net.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) made three saves over 84:45, while redshirt Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) made his collegiate debut, playing the final 5:15 without making a stop.
San Diego State resumes its Pac-10 play Friday at Oregon State.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Freshman Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) earned Man of the Match honors after scoring twice in the team's 4-1 rout over Cal State Fullerton. Byass put all four of his shots on net in 63 minutes of action. He has won the Man of the Match award in each of the past two games.