Aug. 18, 2012
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SAN DIEGO -
New Mexico-San Diego State Final Stats
The San Diego State men's soccer team, which entered with just three practices under its belt, dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 6 New Mexico in an evenly played contest Saturday afternoon at a sun-drenched SDSU Sports Deck at Montezuma Road. The fixture was the Aztecs' lone friendly of the season as it prepares for the 2012 campaign.
SDSU struck first in the 14th minute when the Aztecs were in transition and junior forward Jordan Ongaro slipped a pass to Morgan Sacco who found himself on the left-side of the box. Sacco, a junior midfielder, then found the lower right-hand corner of the net from seven yards out and the home side held a 1-0 lead.
The action went back and forth for the better part of 20 minutes. In the 37th minute, the Lobos funneled the ball to the left side, worked it in the box and a misclear by San Diego State did not make it out of the attacking third, which put the ball in the possession of Michael Calderon. The UNM junior took advantage and leveled the score with his scoring attempt from 15 yards out.
The score remained tied through halftime and well into the second period. New Mexico, however, took the lead on a goal by Carson Baldinger in the 67th minute. His goal from eight yards out into the upper right corner proved to be the difference as the Aztecs were unable to find the equalizer in the final 23 minutes.
The final stats prove how evenly played the match was as both teams notched seven shots and four shots on goal. The Lobos held a slim lead in corner kicks, 4-2, at the final horn.
For San Diego State, which held the Lobos to just one shot in the first 64 minutes, 51 seconds, junior Blake Wise led the way with two shots and two shots on goal. Wise led a group of six Aztecs to record a shot and was one of three to put one on goal.
Both SDSU goalkeepers, Tim Peitsch and John Marcuzzo, allowed one goal apiece with Peitsch earning the start. A native of Perry Hall, Md., Peitsch played 57 minutes, 15 seconds, before giving way to Marcuzzo, who made two saves in his 32 minutes, 45 seconds of action.
The Aztecs will continue their preseason training in preparation for their season opener on Friday, Aug. 31, when it faces Notre Dame in the first game of The adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington, Ind. Game time is set for 5 p.m. ET. The Aztecs will then face No. 12 Indiana on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 2 p.m. ET before returning home.
Following the season-opening road trip, San Diego State will play host to the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Soccer Tournament. The Aztecs will welcome Houston Baptist to America's Finest City on Friday, Sept. 7, in the first-ever men's game played under the lights at Montezuma Road. First tap for "Light the Night" is slated for 7 p.m. PT. The tournament wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 9, when SDSU and Ohio State take the pitch at 1 p.m. PT, before HBU and San Diego clash at 5 p.m. PT. During the home-opening weekend, the program will also honor the 1987 team that advanced to the NCAA title game.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Junior midfielder Morgan Sacco was named Man of the Match after getting San Diego State on the board in the 14th minute. The Greeley, Colo., native played 61 minutes in a starting role for the Aztecs.