Nov. 12, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State men's soccer team fell to sixth-ranked UCLA, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at rainy SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs fell to 10-6-3 overall and 4-5-1 in the Pac-12 Conference, but still ended up with a third-place finish in league play, their best since 2008.
The Bruins, who received goals from Victor Chavez and Chandler Hoffman, improved to 15-4-1 and 10-0 to become the first team to go perfect in conference play since 2003.
SDSU honored its five seniors - Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore.), Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS), Byron Boyken (San Diego/Westview HS), Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) and Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) - in a special ceremony prior to the match.
San Diego State had plenty of chances in the game as it outshot UCLA, 12-8, including a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Additionally, the Aztecs owned a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Davies had the first two quality chances of the game, missing left from a tough angle in the 17th minute and having his low skipping shot from 32 yards covered up by Bruin goalkeeper Brian Rowe in the 22nd minute.
In the 30th minute, SDSU sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay HS) took a 25-yard shot that was angling toward the net. Rowe, however, was there to tip it over the crossbar, resulting in a corner kick.
UCLA got on the scoreboard in the waning moments of the first half on its first good chance when one of its players was taken down by a San Diego State player, resulting in the free kick. On the play, Victor Munoz sent in a cross to Chavez, who touched it into the left side of the net with just five seconds remaining in the first 45.
The Aztecs held a 6-3 shot advantage heading into intermission, while each team had two corner kicks apiece.
Ozbay tried to tie it in the 49th minute but his 25-yard free kick narrowly cleared the crossbar.
In the 73rd minute, Measer hit a hard diving header of a cross, but it was right at the Bruins' Rowe.
UCLA scored after three good chances in a 1:19 span late in the game. The first came at the 81:27 mark when Chavez was stopped on a breakaway chance from 20 yards by SDSU redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS). The second came at 82:09, but Chavez' attempt was punched away by Hylen.
The insurance goal came at the 82:46 mark when Kelyn Rowe passed it to Shawn Singh, who sent in a low cross that skipped across the box on the wet field. Hoffman was there to touch it into the net from seven yards.
Right after the goal, Davies tried a half field shot that was pushed over the net by Rowe, keeping the shutout intact.
Davies led San Diego State with three shots, while sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) and Meuser had two attempts apiece.
Boyken started the game in net and faced two Bruin shots, but did not need to make a save, while Hylen made two saves over the final 67:52. Rowe had five stops to earn the shutout for UCLA.
MEN OF THE MATCH: Aztec seniors Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore.), Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS), Byron Boyken (San Diego/Westview HS), Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) and Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) collectively were named the Men of the Match. Playing in the final games of their career, each started and kept SDSU in the game throughout. Abraham logged 66 minutes, Adan played 79, Boyken 22, Davies 76 and Steres all 90. Boyken played 22:08 of shutout ball in net, Davies had three shots (two on net) and Steres had one attempt while winning numerous balls in the air.
No. 6 UCLA 2, San Diego State 0
UCLA (15-4-1, 10-0 Pac-12) 1 1 -- 2
San Diego State (10-6-3, 4-5-1 Pac-12) 0 0 -- 0
Scoring Summary
1, UCLA - Victor Chavez (3) (Victor Munoz), 44:55
2, UCLA - Chandler Hoffman (15) (Shawn Singh, Kelyn Rowe), 82:46