Sept. 30, 2015
Match Week Preview
San Diego State (5-1-2) at [15/15] Washington (4-1-3)
Friday, October 2 | 6 p.m. PT | Husky Soccer Stadium | Seattle, Wash.
San Diego State (5-1-2) at [RV/--] Oregon State (5-3-0)
Sunday, October 4 | 1:30 p.m. PT | Lorenz Field | Corvallis, Ore.
Storylines
- Boasting its best record since 2011, the Aztecs embark on their Pac-12 slate with a pair of road contests this weekend: at Washington on Fri., Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. and at Oregon State on Sun., Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m. The match against the Huskies will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Washington and Pac-12.com/live. The match against the Huskies will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Washington and Pac-12.com/live. Live stat links for both matches are available on GoAztecs.com.
- After having two matches advance into double overtime this season, San Diego State was determined to end a double overtime match on its own terms, topping the University of the Pacific, 1-0, with a stellar defensive effort and a goal in the 104th minute on Sunday. Ernest Reyes' first collegiate goal handed the Aztecs their fifth win of the season.
- For just the eighth time in the program's 48-year history, San Diego State has allowed six-or-fewer goals in its first eight matches of the season (1982 and 2005 - 3; 1988 - 5; 1979, 1987, 1991, 2010 - 6). The Aztecs have allowed more than one goal in only one match.
- San Diego State is kicking off conference play with its best record since 2011. Currently maintaining a 5-1-2 mark, the team has the 22nd-best win-lost-tied percentage in Division I (.750). The Aztecs are also ranked among the top-50 nationally in shutout percentage (17th, 0.50), team goals against average (23rd, 0.70), assists per game (30th, 1.88), shots per game (31st, 14.88), points per game (33th, 5.63) and scoring offense (38th, 1.88).
- The Aztecs are used to getting off to a hot start at the beginning of a campaign. The team is 55-27-13 against non-conference opponents since joining the Pac-12 in 2005.
- Redshirt senior Rene Reyes has been the Aztecs' most reliable scoring threat in the season's opening three matches, scoring at historic levels. His four tallies in a season's first three matches are the most for an Aztec since 1999 and he currently ranks in the top three among all Pac-12 players with 10 points and four goals. Personally, his four goals are a career high, which he surpassed three matches into the season, and his two-goal outing against San Diego Christian was the first of his career.
- San Diego State head coach Lev Kirshner announced the hire of two assistant coaches, both of whom possess a diverse set of experiences at the youth, collegiate, professional and international levels. Jeffrey "Ziggy" Korytoski and Tony Vigil join Kirshner's staff for his 16th season at the helm of the Aztecs' program in 2015. Korytoski will be in charge of recruiting, while Vigil will handle all scouting.
- On Sept. 25, San Diego State head coach Lev Kirshner's alma mater, Rutgers, inducted its 1990 men's soccer team in to the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame. Kirshner was a senior on that team, which advanced to the NCAA Championship match before falling to UCLA on penalty kicks and was the only team at the tournament that year to score a goal.
- The Aztecs are making their presence felt on the international stage, with three players who have donned the Scarlet and Black representing his country. Junior Travis Nicklaw recently competed with the Guam Men's National Team in 2018 World Cup Qualifying action, helping Matao to a 0-1-1 record against Iran and Oman and a first-place standing in Group D. Redshirt freshman Nedin Tucakovic participated in a camp for the Bosnia-Herzegovina U-21 Men's National Team over the summer, which is preparing for the 2017 UEFA Under-21 Championship. Former Aztec Joe Corona was named to Jurgen Klinsmann's 23-man roster for a pair of friendlies against Peru and Brazil ahead of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup play-off match.
- Kirshner matches California head coach Kevin Grimes as the longest tenured head coach in Pac-12 men's soccer. Under his tutelage, San Diego State maintains a 74-62-18 record out of conference play.
Opponent Notebook
Washington
The Huskies kicked off their 2015 campaign undefeated, but succumbed to a 0-1-1 outing last weekend, falling to Seattle and producing a 0-0 score against Portland. Despite the losses, Washington has been a defensive juggernaut in 2015, posting shutouts in 75 percent of its matches (second nationally), producing the NCAA's third-highest save percentage (0.886) and the fifth-lowest goals against average at 0.46. Keeper Ryan Herman is a big reason for the Huskies' success at the backline, starting seven-of-eight matches for a 3-1-3 record. On the other side of the ball, however, Washington has had some difficulty producing offense. The team ranks last in the conference with just nine goals and five assists on the season. At the helm of the Huskies' program is Jamie Clark. The fifth-year head coach has led Washington to a 53-16-12 mark, three trips to the NCAA Tournament and one Pac-12 title.
Oregon State
After opening 2015 with a 5-0 mark, the Beavers are currently mired in a three-match losing streak after falling to Portland, Gonzaga and Seattle. But the matches have all been close, with seven of Oregon State's eight matches producing a one goal differential. This season, the team has recorded 10 tallies, coming from just three players: leading scorer Timmy Mueller (5), Jordan Jones (4) and Mikhail Doholis (1). The Beavers' go-to in net is Nolan Wirth, maintaining a 0.99 goals against average and a .682 save percentage in seven starts. Steve Simmons is in his seventh season guiding Oregon State's men's soccer program. The Beavers are coming off of their best season in school history at 12-8-1, winning the school's first NCAA Tournament match and getting wins over two top 10 opponents.