Sept. 4, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
Stephen Posa scored off a scramble in front of the goal in the 89th minute to give San Diego a 2-1 victory over the San Diego State men's soccer team Sunday night at Torero Stadium in front of 2,967 fans. The Aztecs (1-1-1) suffered their first loss of the season, while the Toreros (1-2-0) picked up their first win.
SDSU, which leads the all-time series between the two schools, 11-6-2, got on the scoreboard first in the ninth minute when junior Abraham Villon (Garden Grove, Calif.) sent a pass into the box to a breaking redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta). Pegg touched it once and blasted it into the right corner for his first goal as an Aztec.
San Diego State almost took a 2-0 lead in the 15th minute when sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) found himself with some room and let go a 31-yard shot that knuckled downward. USD goalkeeper Adam Campbell, however, was able to dive to his right and keep Byass of the board.
San Diego tied it in the 21st minute as Daniel Meade's 30-yard shot from the center beat Aztec redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) into the upper-right part of the goal.
SDSU sophomore Kody Duff (Roseville, Calif.) had the final good chance of the half in the 45th minute but his long range shot was covered up nicely by Campbell.
At the intermission, each team had four shots apiece with San Diego State putting all four attempts on net. The Toreros owned a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.
Aztec junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) had an early try (55th minute) at goal in the second half but chipped it over.
On the other side, Patrick Wallen got a through ball but lifted it well over the frame from 16 yards in the 56th minute.
In the 60th minute, USD's Conor McFadden got off a 25-yard shot that slipped through the defense, but Hylen was there to punch it over with his left hand.
San Diego had its best chance of the half in the 73rd minute when Posa's diving header off a free kick by Dan Delgado hit the crossbar. The SDSU defense stood tall and cleared the ball out of harm's way.
The Toreros kept up its pressure and finally took the lead at the 88:17 mark when Posa got a foot on the ball after a scramble in front of the goal.
San Diego State earned a corner kick in the dying moments but was unable to get off a quality shot, giving the home team its first win in the last six games of the series.
USD owned a slight 9-6 advantage in shots, while each team had two corner kicks.
Byass and Pegg led the Aztecs with two shots apiece, while Altamirano and Duff had the other two attempts.
Hylen (1-1-1) played all 90 minutes in net and made two saves.
SDSU plays host to the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Soccer Tournament this weekend, beginning Friday with a game against Manhattan at 4 p.m. PT.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior co-captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) was named the Man of the Match after controlling the backline for all 90 minutes. A two-time all-Pac-12 selection, Steres helped the Aztecs keep composure in the back during USD's late run. Steres also routinely won balls in the air, clearing balls out of dangerous situations.
Goal Summary
1, SDSU - John Pegg (1) (Abraham Villon (1)), 8:28
2, USD - Daniel Meade (1) (Unassisted), 20:30
3, USD - Stephen Posa (1) (Unassisted), 88:17