Aug 30, 2013
BOX SCORE | FINAL BOX PDF | KIRSHNER POST GAME | PHOTO GALLERY
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team got off to a great start to the 2013 season on Friday night, defeating cross-town foe No. 16/21/12 San Diego in dominating fashion, 5-0, at SDSU Sports Deck.
The victory tied as the second-largest margin of victory for the Aztecs over the Toreros in series history, behind only a 6-0 win at USD in 1988. San Diego State (1-0) now leads the all-time series between the two schools 12-6-2. In addition, the Aztecs are now 5-4 in season openers at Montezuma Road under head coach Lev Kirshner.
Seniors Kody Duff, Jordan Ongaro, Morgan Sacco, Abraham Villon and freshman Henrik Synnes each scored a goal for San Diego State, while seniors Blake Wise and Kevin Bick, junior Evyn Hewett and redshirt freshman Aaron Thompson recorded an assist each. It was SDSU's highest scoring output since defeating North Florida, 9-0, last season.
Senior goalkeeper Blake Hylen finished with three saves in the shut-out victory. San Diego State's defense was also stout on Friday night, holding San Diego (0-1) to only eight shots. The Toreros recorded at least 20 shots on three separate occasions last season.
The Aztecs came out crisp early on, quickly taking a 4-0 advantage in shots. Duff got SDSU on the scoreboard for the first time this season with a header in the 19th minute, set up by fancy passes from both Wise and Hewett. San Diego State took its 1-0 lead into halftime with a 10-6 advantage in shots.
The scoring opened up in the second half however, as Ongaro's unassisted goal from 18 yards out in 53rd minute extended the Aztecs' lead, 2-0. Villon's diagonal shot from 15 yards out into the right side of the net off Bick's pass gave SDSU a 3-0 cushion in the 64th minute, and Sacco's penalty kick in the 67th minute pushed the Aztecs' advantage to 4-0.
Synnes' header off a Thompson corner kick concluded the scoring for the night, as San Diego State finished the match with a 19-8 edge in shots, including a 9-3 disparity in shots on target.
The Aztecs conclude play in the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Soccer Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 1, against Florida International. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. PT at SDSU Sports Deck. After Friday night's victory, San Diego State is now 8-2-1 all-time in the tournament since it began in 2008.
Man of the Match: Freshman defender August Wangberg was named Man of the Match after solidifying the Aztecs' defense on Friday night. The Gothenburg, Sweden native played all 90 minutes on the back line and had a big role in SDSU limiting USD to only eight shots.