Nov. 6, 2011
BERKELEY, Calif. -
The San Diego State men's soccer team and California played to a 1-1, double-overtime draw Sunday afternoon in Berkeley.
The Aztecs (10-5-3, 4-4-1 Pac-12), who are now 3-1-1 against teams who made last year's NCAA tournament, outshot the host Bears, 18-17, including a 6-3 advantage in the two overtimes, but were unable to get a late goal.
Redshirt senior Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore.) scored his first career goal for SDSU in the 44th minute. On the play, sophomore Miles Byass (Highland, Calif.) sent a corner kick into the box where Abraham headed in a shot past the Cal goalkeeper Robby Gogatz.
California answered in the 51st minute on a play started by Christian Dean. Dean sent a long ball from the midfield into the San Diego State box, where John Fitzpatrick tapped it back to Seth Casiple. Casiple slotted a shot past Aztec redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Blake Hylen (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS) for the equalizer.
SDSU, which is ranked 27th by College Soccer News, had a great chance late in regulation (88:40 mark), but a shot by Byass went just wide of the right post.
San Diego State had five shots in the first overtime and another in the final 10 minutes in the tie.
Redshirt sophomore John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta) had four shots to lead the Aztec offense, while Byass added three attempts. Redshirt senior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)), junior Ata Ozbay (Barrington, Ill.) and sophomore Casey Meuser (Granite Bay, Calif.) contributed two shots apiece.
Hylen made six saves in 110 minutes for SDSU. Gogatz (two saves, 45:00) and Kevin Peach (one save, 65:00) split time in net for California.
San Diego State plays host to nationally ranked and Pac-12 champion UCLA at 2 p.m. PT Saturday. Aztec seniors Abraham, Pedro Adan (San Diego/Preuss HS), Byron Boyken (San Diego/Westview HS), Davies and Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Redshirt senior Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore.) was named the Man of the Match after scoring his first career goal in the first half to give the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead on a header. Abraham played a season-high 34 minutes off the bench.
No. 27 San Diego State 1, California 1 (2 OT)
San Diego State (10-5-3, 4-4-1 Pac-12) 1 0 0 0 -- 1
California (3-8-5, 0-6-3 Pac-12) 0 1 0 0 -- 1
Scoring Summary
1, SDSU - Gemechu Abraham (1) (Miles Byass), 43:59
2, CAL - Seth Casiple (1) (John Fitzpatrick, Christian Dean), 50:28