Aug. 28, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
Sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) and redshirt sophomore Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) each had a goal and assisted on another to lead the San Diego State men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Canisius Sunday at SDSU Sports Deck.
The Aztecs (1-0), who won their season opener for the first time since 2006, controlled possession and dictated the pace of the match from the opening whistle. SDSU outshot the Griffs (0-2), 20-9, including a 9-4 advantage on net. San Diego State also outcornered Canisius, 10-6.
One of four players to make their Aztec starting debut today, junior Ata Ozbay (Barrington, Ill./Univ. of Wisconsin) had the first good scoring chance from either team in 20th minute, but his left-footed shot from 18 yards was right at Griff goalkeeper Kareem Gray.
On a counterattack minutes later, Canisius' Sam Zarka sent a through ball to the left side where Will Hudson beat SDSU redshirt sophomore Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) into the right corner, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead. It was the Griffs' first shot of the game and one of just four in the first half.
San Diego State bounced back with a barrage of opportunities, including a 20-yard shot by Ozbay that was stopped by a diving Canisius goalkeeper (Gray) in the 27th minute and a 30-yard blast from Byass off a free kick that ringed off the crossbar in the 36th minute.
The Aztecs finally tied it at the 37:27 mark when Ongaro settled Byass' corner kick, turned and scored from 13 yards. It was the first career collegiate goal for Ongaro, who gained valuable international experience last spring as a member of the Canadian U-20 team at the 2011 CONCACAF Championships.
A little more than four minutes later, Byass gave SDSU a 2-1 lead when his 25-yard attempt deflected off the hands of the diving Gray and into the lower-left corner. Byass now has six goals over his last six games, dating back to last season. Sophomore Sean Zaher (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Ongaro were credited with assists on the game-winning goal.
At the half, San Diego State had 13 of the game's 17 shots and five of the seven corner kicks.
In the 68th minute, Aztec junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) took a pass from Byass and knuckled a shot from 18 yards on the right side that was saved by the game Gray. Ten minutes later, junior and Arizona Western College transfer Abraham Villon (Garden Grove, Calif.) fired a 22-yard shot from a set piece over the wall and just over the crossbar.
Canisius mounted a small comeback in the latter stages of the second half, but was unable to get another one past Hylen. Andrew Incho headed a cross at the 78:57 mark that was pushed left and out of bounds by Hylen and headed another in the 85th minute from 15 yards that was right at Hylen.
Hylen finished with three saves to pick up his first collegiate victory. His counterpart, Gray, had seven saves, two days after making a career-high 10 stops in a loss at Cal State Northridge.
Ongaro led all players with four shots, including two on net, while Byass and Ozbay (all on net) each added three attempts. Altamirano, redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta), Sacco and senior co-captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) had two shots apiece for the victors.
SDSU begins its annual Alumni, Family and Friends weekend on Friday with a home game against Long Island (1:30 p.m. PT). The Alumni Game will take place on Saturday (Sept. 3) at 1 p.m. PT, followed by the Battle of San Diego between San Diego State and USD on Sunday (Sept. 4) at 8 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior co-captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) earned Man of the Match honors for his suburb play in the back. Steres and the Aztec defense limited Canisius to just nine shots, with only four on net. Steres played all 90 minutes and had two shots (one on goal).
Goal Summary
1, CAN - Will Hudson (1) (Sam Zarka (1)), 20:26
2, SDSU - Jordan Ongaro (1) (Miles Byass (1)), 37:27
3, SDSU - Miles Byass (1) (Sean Zaher (1), Jordan Ongaro (1)), 41:44