Oct. 22, 2011
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SAN DIEGO -
The No. 22 San Diego State men's soccer downed Michigan 2-1 Saturday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck in its final non-conference match of the season.
The Aztecs improved to 9-3-2 on the year and 3-1 against 2010 NCAA tournament teams. The Wolverines (5-11-1), who reached the 2010 semifinal, were coming off a 1-0 win over defending national champion Akron on Tuesday.
SDSU got its first goal at the 8:53 mark from sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) and added a second in the 57th minute on an own goal. Matthew Rickard scored late (77:38) for UM.
Byass' goal was the first legit scoring chance for either team. The play began when senior Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) sent a long ball from the right side to sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.). Meuser then found Byass breaking toward the net. Byass finished into the lower-right corner from 18 yards out from the center of the box. It was the Byass' fifth goal of the season and 10th of his career (all over the last 19 games). He leads the team with 15 points on five goals and five assists.
Byass had another opportunity in the 18th minute, but his left-footed shot from 26 yards was wide left.
In the 37th minute, redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta) sent in a cross from the right side that slithered past the Michigan defense. Junior Ata Ozbay (Barrington, Ill.) was able to just get a foot on it, half-volleying it off the crossbar from seven yards out.
The Wolverines first scoring chance came in the 41st minute when they were awarded a free kick from 22 yards, but Dylan Mencia's shot was easily stopped by San Diego State redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS). Minutes later, Kofi Opare flicked a header off a cross but Hylen was there once again to keep Michigan off the board.
The Aztecs had a late semi-breakaway attempt in the final minute of the first half with redshirt sophomores Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) and Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) leading the charge. Ongaro got off a shot, but was blocked by the regrouping UM defense.
SDSU took its 1-0 lead into halftime with a 6-3 advantage in shots and a 1-0 edge in corner kicks.
It didn't take long for San Diego State to get on the scoreboard again in the second half as it got a little help from the Michigan defense at the 56:41 mark. Ongaro dribbled down the left side and sent in a cross in front of the goalmouth toward Sacco. Sacco's pressure helped a Wolverine defender knock the ball into their own net.
Just over a minute later, Sacco ripped a shot from 17 yards that was saved by the diving UM goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.
In the 71st minute, Ongaro received a through ball but his attempt was stopped by Grinwis, who came out to challenge the semi-breakaway.
Michigan finally got on the scoreboard at the 77:38 mark after a San Diego State player was whistled for a hand ball just outside the box. Matthew Rickard took a quick pass from Fabio Pereira and blasted a 25-yard shot that was deflected into the left side of the net.
In the 84th minute, Aztec freshman Tyler Smith (Huntington Beach, Calif.) got off a left-footed volley from 22 yards but it just hooked right of the frame.
The Wolverines tried to tie it in the 85th minute when Noble Sullivan took a pass from Latif Alashe on the left side, but his 10-yard attempt was stopped by a diving Hylen.
Byass had the final good chance for either team in the 88th minute but his hard low-lined attempt from 22 yards was right at Grinwis.
For the game, SDSU outshot UM 11-9 and owned a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Byass had a game-high four shots to pace the San Diego State offense. Ozbay and Ongaro added two attempts apiece.
Hylen made three saves in net for the Aztecs, while Grinwis stopped three for Michigan.
SDSU returns to Pac-12 Conference play Friday with a home match against Oregon State at 3 p.m. PT.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.) was named the Man of the Match for his play in both the midfield and in the back. Meuser started the match in the midfield and assisted on Miles Byass' (Highland, Calif.) goal, then later moved to the back to preserve the San Diego State lead. He played all 90 minutes and had one shot.
No. 22 San Diego State 2, Michigan 1
Michigan (5-11-1) 0 1 -- 1
San Diego State (9-3-2) 1 1 -- 2
Scoring Summary
1, SDSU - Miles Byass (5) (Casey Meuser), 8:53
2, SDSU - Own Goal, 56:41
3, UM - Matthew Rickard (1) (Fabio Pereira), 77:38