Men's Soccer

Aztecs Begin Pac-12 Play in the Bay Area

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Up Next
San Diego State (4-2-1) at Stanford (3-1-3)
Thursday, Sept. 27 | 5:00 p.m. PT | Laird Q. Cagan Stadium | Palo Alto, Calif.
Media Coverage: Pac-12 Network | Live Stats 

San Diego State (4-2-1) at California (4-2-2)
Sunday, Sept. 30 | 12:00 p.m. PT | Edwards Stadium | Berkeley, Calif.
Media Coverage: Pac-12 Bay Area | Live Stats

Last Time Out
The Aztecs won their fourth match in a row with a 2-1 victory over UNLV Monday evening. SDSU scored two goals in the first five minutes on a Pablo Pelaez PK and a Laukoa Santos strike from 25 yards out and then held on for the 2-1 victory.
    
Aztec Storylines

  • SDSU started the year 0-2-1, but have reeled off four straight victories. The last time the Aztecs won four matches in a row was early in the 2016 season (Aug. 28- Sept. 1). The Aztecs advanced to the NCAA Tournament that year.
  • Redshirt freshman Laukoa Santos scored his first collegiate goal Monday evening against UNLV. Keegan Kelley sent a pass to Santos at the top of the box and he bent it inside the near post past the outstretched arms of the UNLV keeper from 25 yards out. Santos is tied for the team-lead with 10 shots.
  • Pablo Pelaez, the Aztecs' captain, leads the team in goals (4) and points (10) and is tied for the team-lead in shots (10). He enters the weekend second in the Pac-12 in points per game (1.43).
  • The Aztecs are first in the Pac-12 and 17th in the nation in corner kicks per game (6.50). They have attempted 44 corners while allowing their opponents just 21 attempts.
  • The Aztecs will play a road match for the first time since August 26th, a 1-1 draw at San Francisco. SDSU went 4-1-0 in their five game home stand.
  • The Aztecs enter Pac-12 play tied with Stanford with a conference-best .643 win percentage. They are the only team in the Pac-12 currently on a winning streak after every other conference team lost last weekend. No Pac-12 teams are currently ranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll, but Stanford, Washington and UCLA are all receiving votes.
  • The Aztecs won the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Aztec Soccer Classic earlier this season, the fifth time winning the tournament (2009, '11, '14, '16 & '18). Pablo Pelaez was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Keegan Kelly, Aleks Berkolds, Emil Kjellker and Miles Stray were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Opponent Notebook
Stanford

The Cardinal are 3-1-3 on the year and are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll... They suffered their first loss of the season last week, falling to Pacific 1-0 at home... They have won the last three national championships... They have a goals allowed average of 0.26, the third best rate in the nation... Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas is third in the nation in save percentage (.917) and tied for 11th with four shutouts... Head Coach Jeremy Gunn (7th year) has led the Cardinal to three national championships and a 52-7-10 record over the past three seasons... The Aztecs are 12-15-8 all-time against Stanford... Their last win came in 2011, a 1-0 victory at home.

California
The Golden Bears are 4-2-2 on the season, but have just one win in their last four matches... They are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Santa Clara and host UCLA on Thursday... Cal leads the conference with 1.88 goals per game (34th in the nation)... Shinya Kadono is fifth in the nation in goals (8) and points (18)... Goalkeeper Drake Callender has a goals allowed average of 1.11... Head Coach Kevin Grimes (19th season) is 193-124-42 at Cal and has won five Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year Awards... The Aztecs are 22-21-4 all-time against California... SDSU won both meetings in 2016, but fell in both matches last year.