Oct. 2, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 85th minute, to lift the San Diego State men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over California Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck on Montezuma Road. The Aztecs (7-1-2) stretched their unbeaten streak to seven games and improved to 2-0 in Pac-12 play, their best league start since starting 3-0 in 2007.
The game-winner came when freshman Tyler Smith (Huntington Beach, Calif.) sent in a left-footed cross from the left side into the box, where senior co-captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) beat a Bear (3-4-2, 0-2 Pac-12) defender to the ball and headed it back to Ongaro. Ongaro settled it and fired it into the right corner from 11 yards for his first career game-winning goal.
It was one of plenty chances for the SDSU offense, which outshot Cal, 20-7, including a 13-4 advantage in the second half and a 8-3 lead in shots on net. San Diego State also had all eight corner kicks in the match.
The Aztecs came out on the offensive from the get-go, getting off their first shot at the 1:36 mark after a defensive misclear by California. Junior Ata Ozbay (Barrington, Ill.) found sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.), but his left-footed shot from 16 yards at a tough angle went wide left.
Byass had another chance in the fifth minute after taking a pass from junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) and beating a Bear defender. Byass got off a clean 18-yard attempt with his right foot, but was stopped by a diving Kevin Peach, the Cal goalkeeper.
California appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute but Tony Salciccia's goal was disallowed because of an offsides call.
San Diego State responded with the final three good chances of the half. Altamirano had his shot from 27 yards tipped over the crossbar by Peach in the 24th minute, redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta) just missed the left post from 12 yards in the 25th minute and Ongaro was unable to get off a header from close range on a Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.) cross in the 43rd minute.
At the halftime intermission, the Aztecs held a 7-3 advantage in shots and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.
SDSU picked up where it left off in the second 45, continuing to control possession and pepper the Bear box with shots. Ongaro got off a quick shot just 23 seconds into the second half inside 10 yards on the right side, but was saved by Peach.
Meuser started a strong possession in the 50th minute, sending a pass to Villon. Villon dribbled all the way into the Cal box, before passing it back to redshirt sophomore Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.). Sacco then touched it back to a wide-open Altamirano, but his 24-yard shot was tipped over the bar by Peach.
San Diego State's persistence finally paid off at the 56:27 mark when Villon sent a through ball to a breaking Ongaro, who beat Peach to the right side from just inside 18 yards.
At the 63:00 mark, Altamirano ripped a hard shot from 12 yards on the right, but it just went high of the crossbar. Freshman Evyn Hewett (La Palma, Calif.) set up the initial run.
The Aztecs almost put the game out of reach in the 66th minute when Byass beat a California defender down the left side and sent in a curving pass. Pegg's diving header from close range was deflected over by Peach for another SDSU corner kick.
The Bears took advantage of one of their few scoring chances at the 68:46 mark as Omid Jalali took a ball from Seth Casiple and tucked it into the right corner from eight yards out. The goal was the first allowed by San Diego State redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) in 356:24, a period of almost four 90-minute regulation matches.
Aztec sophomore Kody Duff (Roseville, Calif.) had a quality opportunity in the 76th minute, but his 19-yard shot in the center just missed the upper-right corner.
Ongaro would make sure there would be no overtime with his game-winner in the 85th minute.
Altamirano had a game-high six shots (three on net) to lead SDSU, while Byass, Ongaro and Pegg had three attempts apiece. Shaddock led Cal with two shots.
Hylen made two saves to improve to 6-1-2 on the year, while Peach (1-2) had six stops.
Over San Diego State's seven-match unbeaten streak (6-0-1), it is outscoring the opposition, 15-3. The Aztecs also own a 114-58 shot advantage and a 34-16 edge in corner kicks.
SDSU looks to continue its solid start to Pac-12 play when it heads to the Pacific Northwest for games at Oregon State (7 p.m. PT Friday) and No. 22 Washington (2:30 p.m. PT Sunday).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Redshirt sophomore Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) was named the Man of the Match after scoring two goals in San Diego State's 2-1 win over California. Ongaro scored the game's first goal at the 56:27 mark and then scored the game-winner in the 85th minute. Ongaro had three shots in just 33 minutes.
San Diego State 2, California 0
California (3-4-2, 0-2 Pac-12) 0 1 -- 1
San Diego State (7-1-2, 2-0 Pac-12) 0 2 -- 2
Scoring Summary
1, SDSU - Jordan Ongaro (3) (Abraham Villon (3)), 56:27
2, CAL - Omid Jalali (1) (Seth Casiple (6)), 68:46
3, SDSU - Jordan Ongaro (4) (Daniel Steres (2), Tyler Smith (1)), 84:55