Sept. 11, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
Junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) scored two first-half goals to lead the San Diego State men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over 21st-ranked Penn Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck.
The win gave the Aztecs (3-1-1) a 2-0 record in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament and their first outright title in the tournament's four-year history. USD also went 2-0 in the tournament, but SDSU's goal differential of +6 was one better than San Diego's +5.
SDSU is now 6-1-1 all-time in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament and is unbeaten over its last seven in the annual four-team competition. San Diego State was co-champions with Penn in 2009 and finished runner-up to UC Irvine due to goal differential last season.
Altamirano, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player, scored both of his goals within the first 28 minutes and hit another shot off the far post early in the second half. On the first goal, which came in the 16th minute, redshirt senior co-captain Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) sent in a pass from the left side to Altamirano, who calmly poked it into the lower left corner from inside 10 yards.
Altamirano added an insurance goal at the 27:53 mark on a laser from about 25 yards out. Junior Abraham Villon (Garden Grove, Calif./Arizona Western College) dribbled in towards the box on the left side and slid a pass to Altamirano on the right side. Altamirano took one dribble and ripped a shot into the upper-left corner of the net.
Altamirano, a member of three United States National team age groups, most recently with the U-20 squad in March of 2009, now has three goals this year after recording two over his first two seasons.
At halftime, San Diego State had five of the game's six shots, while neither team attempted a corner kick.
Altamirano tried to make it a hat trick at the 47:29 mark, but his attempt on the right side ringed off the left post and was cleared out by the Quaker (2-2-0) defense.
The Aztecs outshot Penn, 10-7, in the physical, possession match, while the visitors owned a slight 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Altamirano had a game-high four shots to pace SDSU, while redshirt junior Chance Marden (Fremont, Calif.) contributed two attempts in just four minutes off the bench.
San Diego State redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) played all 90 minutes and made three saves to pick up his first career shutout. Max Kurtzman had one stop for the Quakers.
The Aztec starting defense of senior co-captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.), redshirt senior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)), sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.) and freshman Tyler Smith (Huntington Beach, Calif.) stood tall in the back, limiting Penn to just seven shots (three on net). The Quakers, who were ranked in two national polls and as high as No. 21 by Top Drawer Soccer, came into the weekend with seven goals in two games.
SDSU landed four on the all-tournament team, including Adan, Meuser, redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta) and Steres. Christian Duke of USD garnered the tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
San Diego State travels to play Oral Roberts (6 p.m. CT Friday) and Houston Baptist (7 p.m. CT Sunday) this weekend.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) earned Man of the Match honors for scoring both goals and hitting a post in the Aztecs' 2-0 win over No. 21 Penn. The midfielder finished with four shots on the day over 74 minutes. For his efforts, he was named the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
The Fourth Annual Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament
Final Results
1. San Diego State: 2-0-0 (Won on goal differential)
2. San Diego (2-0-0)
3. No. 21 Penn (0-2-0) (Took third on goal differential)
4. Manhattan (0-2-0)
Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Jose Altamirano, SDSU (3 goals, GWG vs. Penn on Sunday)
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Christina Duke, USD (3 assists, helped preserve two shutouts)
All-Tournament Team
Daniel Steres, SDSU
Pedro Adan, SDSU
John Pegg, SDSU
Casey Meuser, SDSU
Stephen Posa, USD
Jorge Reza, USD
Eli Galbraith, USD
Thomas Brandt, Penn
Jonny Dolezal, Penn
Lucas Pilar da Silva, Manhattan
Jake Donowick, Manhattan
Goal Summary
1, SDSU - Jose Altamirano (2) (Pedro Adan (1)), 15:42
2, SDSU - Jose Altamirano (3) (Abraham Villon (2)), 27:53