Oct. 16, 2011
LOS ANGELES -
The 22nd-ranked San Diego State men's soccer team yielded two second-half counterattack goals in a 2-0 loss at No. 9 UCLA Sunday night in Los Angeles. The Aztecs dropped to 8-3-2 with the loss and 3-2 in the Pac-12 Conference, while the host Bruins improved to 10-3-1 and 5-0.
SDSU outshot the Bruins, 10-9, for the match, including a 5-4 advantage on net, but was unable to get on the scoreboard over the 90 minutes.
San Diego State pressured UCLA for a goal the entire first half, controlling possession and having the better shot attempts.
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) had the first chance just 1:43 into the match but his shot was saved by Bruin goalkeeper Brian Rowe. Ongaro had another attempt saved by Rowe in the 10th minute.
UCLA's best chance of the first half came in the 26th minute when Victor Munoz had his attempt blocked by an Aztec defender, got his rebound and was stopped by SDSU's redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS).
San Diego State junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) ripped a shot in the 28th minute that was saved by a game Rowe. A minute later, redshirt senior Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) had his attempt blocked from close range, keeping the game scoreless at the halftime break.
At the half, the Aztecs had a 5-4 advantage in shots and a 3-1 lead in shots on goal.
Sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) had a quality chance in the 58th minute, but this shot from the left-center side of the box went just wide.
The Bruins got on the scoreboard at the 69:17 mark when Kelyn Rowe sent in a through ball into the box to Chandler Hoffman. Hoffman beat Hylen to the near post for the eventual game winner.
SDSU tried to tie it in the 77th minute, but Altamirano fired high of the crossbar from just outside the box.
In the 84th minute, a San Diego State defender lost the ball and UCLA took advantage. Victor Munoz sent in a cross into the box to Hoffman, who finished off an Aztec defender for the insurance goal.
Ongaro had the final quality attempt for either team at the 89:24 mark off a pass from Altamirano, but his shot was saved once again by Rowe.
Ongaro led SDSU with three shots, all on net, while Altamirano had two attempts.
Hylen had two saves in 90 minutes for San Diego State, while Brian Rowe had five stops for the host Bruins.
The Aztecs play host to 2010 NCAA semifinalist Michigan on Saturday (3 p.m. PT) in the team's final non-conference match of the season. Tickets to all SDSU home games are free.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.) earned Man of the Match honors for his play in the back. Meuser helped the backline limit the ninth-ranked Bruins to just nine shot attempts and four on net. Meuser conistently won balls in the air and helped limit the potent UCLA attack to few chances. He played all 90 minutes and added a shot.
No. 9 UCLA 2, No. 22 San Diego State 0
San Diego State (8-3-2, 3-2 Pac-12) 0 0 -- 0
UCLA (10-3-1, 5-0 Pac-12) 0 2 -- 2
Scoring Summary
1, UCLA - Chandler Hoffman (10) (Kelyn Rowe), 69:17
2, UCLA - Chandler Hoffman (11) (Victor Munoz), 83:17