Oct. 9, 2010
LOS ANGELES -
The San Diego State men's soccer team gave up a goal in the 78th minute in a 1-0 loss at UCLA Saturday night. The Aztecs (7-3-1, 1-2-0 Pac-10) came into the match ranked as high as No. 21 by Soccer America, while the Bruins (8-2-1, 3-0-0 Pac-10) are ranked No. 8 by Top Drawer Soccer.
The goal at the 77:36 mark came on a counterattack when Kelyn Rowe took a pass from Zach Foxhoven on the right side and finished into the left corner.
SDSU outshot the hosts, 14-11, but couldn't get a ball past the goal line and keeper Brian Rowe.
Senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) had a game-high four shots for San Diego State, while true freshman Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) chipped in with three attempts. Redshirt junior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)), sophomore Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) and Sean Zaher (Las Vegas, Nev.) added two shots apiece.
The Aztecs had plenty of chances throughout the match, but the Bruin goalkeeper came up with many big saves. Zaher had the first good chance for either team in the 34th minute when he broke down the left side and just missed near post from eight yards out.
In the 51st minute, Altamirano got off a shot from 25 yards that was barely tipped by Rowe. Byass had a quality attempt in the 67th minute, but a diving Rowe was able to get his hands on the shot.
Reza got into the action in the 76th minute when he volleyed a chance that was once again stopped with an acrobat save by Rowe. He later had his set piece attempt from just outside of the box knocked down by a UCLA defender. The set piece shot came minutes after Altamirano's left-footed shot just missed the far post on the right side.
Byass missed a shot from 15 yards in the dying minutes on a 1-v-1 with the keeper, keeping SDSU off the board.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) made five saves in 90 minutes for San Diego State.
The Aztecs continues its three-match road trip Friday at nationally ranked California.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Redshirt senior Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) earned Man of the Match honors after making five saves in 90 minutes. Byrns came out of his net well to repeatedly grab crosses. He kept the game scoreless until the 78th minute.