Oct. 26, 2015
STANFORD, Calif. - The San Diego State men's soccer team held Stanford scoreless for the final 63 minutes of its Pac-12 matchup, but could not overcome an early three-goal deficit and fell to the No. 3/2 Cardinal, 3-1, on Monday night.
The Aztecs move to 6-7-2 on the season, maintaining a 1-6-0 mark in conference play. Stanford, riding a 12-match unbeaten streak, is now 12-1-2 in 2015 with a 5-0-2 record against Pac-12 foes.
A brilliant performance by Adam Allmaras fended off Stanford's early attack. In the fifth minute, Corey Baird served the ball to Jordan Morris. With Morris taking a sliding shot in the box, Allmaras was able to knock the ball up and behind the net to keep the young match scoreless.
But five minutes later, the Cardinal were able to get on the board. At 10:27, Morris sent a long cross from the end line to Tomas Hilliard-Arce, who one-timed in the goal from close range at the left post.
Morris got a goal of his own less than six minutes later when Slater Meehan headed the ball forward to him, giving room for the U.S. Men's National Team member to finish at the right post for the 2-0 lead.
Stanford completed the trifecta at the 27-minute mark. Eric Verso dribbled the ball into the box and sent a touch to Foster Langsdorf, striking in the 3-0 goal.
But the Aztecs refused to go down without a fight, spoiling Andrew Epstein's shutout bid nearly a minute-and-a-half later. Winston Sorhaitz streaked down the right wing and fed a pass to Casey Macias at the top of the box. The junior and tri-captain then dished it to Jeroen Meefout, who beat his defender with a long wraparound shot for the 3-1 score.
San Diego State was able to disrupt Stanford's rhythm in the second half, despite playing a man down after Dallin Cutler was issued a red card in the 44th minute. The Aztecs limited the Cardinal to just three shots on goal in the final 45 minutes, compared to eight in the first half.
In the 63rd minute, Sorhaitz was nearly able to cut Stanford's lead to one with a shot on frame, and the sophomore from Lindon, Utah continued to help the Aztecs generate scoring opportunities. With just over eight minutes remaining in full-time, he sent a perfectly placed corner kick to Rene Reyes, whose header was stopped by Epstein.
In the match, Stanford out-shot San Diego State, 19-7, with seven different Aztecs taking a shot. The Cardinal took seven corner kicks to San Diego State's four. In a season-high performance, Allmaras made eight saves, as his record fell to 4-7-2.
San Diego State will use its Pac-12 Conference bye week to visit Dayton, Ohio, where it will face Wright State on Sat., Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. (ET).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Casey Macias is the Aztecs' Man of the Match. The junior tri-captain assisted on San Diego State's lone goal of the match, sending a feed to Jeroen Meefout at 27:55, who cashed in to spoil Andrew Epstein's shutout bid. The San Diego native took a shot while recording 72 minutes on the pitch.