Oct. 28, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
The No. 20 San Diego State men's soccer picked up its 10th victory of the season with a 3-0 win over Oregon State Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs (10-3-2, 4-2 Pac-12) now have back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 1991-92.
Redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta), senior captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) and freshman Tyler Smith (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each scored for SDSU, which swept the Beavers (5-9-2, 3-4-1 Pac-12) in the season series for the first time in its seven years of the Pac-12. San Diego State scored all three of its goals on its final four shot attempts.
The Aztecs had the first quality opportunity for either team in the 16th minute that started with junior Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) sending in a corner kick from the left side. Redshirt sophomore Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) received it on the far side and sent in a low line drive into the box to Steres. Steres hit it toward the right corner but an OSU defender cleared it away at the last moment, resulting in another SDSU corner kick.
Oregon State had three good looks over a five-minute span, but only Roberto Farfan's header in the 21st minute was one net. San Diego State redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) was there for the save.
In the 34th minute, redshirt senior captain Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS) found sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.). Byass turned and fired but his left-footed attempt from 18 yards ringed off the crossbar.
Redshirt senior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) got off a good attempt for the Aztecs in the 38th minute, but is close range flick was knocked down by Oregon State goalkeeper Steve Spangler.
SDSU got on the scoreboard in the waning moments of the first half after the Beavers' Glenn Paden was whistled for a foul and subsequent yellow card. Adan sent the free kick into the box where Spangler came out to punch the ball out of the box. The ball went right to Pegg, who calmly chipped it over the scrambler Spangler and an OSU defender from 20 yards for his second goal of the season.
At the break, San Diego State held a 6-5 lead in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Oregon State went into attacking mode in the second half, but the Aztec defense stood tall to preserve the shutout. Emery Welshman had a 12-yard shot stopped by a game Hylen in the 59th minute and Roberto Farfan's 18-yard shot went just right of frame in the 64th minute.
SDSU responded with two insurance goals less than four minutes a part to seal the victory. The first came at the 70:08 mark when Steres headed in a corner kick from Altamirano. It was Steres' fifth goal of the season, which ties Byass and redshirt sophomore Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) for the team lead.
At the 73:38 mark, redshirt sophomore Robbie Freise (Canyon Country, Calif.) sent a free kick into the box to Ongaro, who flicked it to Smith. Smith then put away a 14-yard shot for his fourth tally of the year.
Beaver Chris Harms had the last quality attempt for either team in the 79th minute but his hard 16-yard shot on the right side was knocked over by Hylen.
Ongaro, Pegg and Steres had two shots apiece to pace San Diego State, which won its 17th consecutive game when leading at the half. Welshman and Colin Mitchell each had three attempts for OSU.
Steres, sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.), freshman Evyn Hewett (La Palma, Calif.) and Freise each started and played all 90 minutes in the back to help Hylen record his fourth shutout of the season. Hylen had six saves to improve to 9-3-2 on the year.
The Aztecs play host to No. 19 Washington at 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free to all SDSU home contests.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior captain Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) was named Man of the Match after scoring San Diego State's second goal on a header. Steres played all 90 minutes and helped the Aztecs preserve its fifth shutout of the season. He won numerous balls in the air and helped keep the Beavers' opportunities to long range tries.
No. 20 San Diego State 3, Oregon State 0
Oregon State (5-9-2, 3-4-1 Pac-12) 0 0 -- 0
San Diego State (10-3-2, 4-2 Pac-12) 1 2 -- 3
Scoring Summary
1, SDSU - John Pegg (2) (unassisted), 44:47
2, SDSU - Daniel Steres (5) (Jose Altamirano), 70:08
3, SDSU - Tyler Smith (4) (Jordan Ongaro, Robbie Freise), 73:58