SAN DIEGO – The Aztec men's soccer team (5-6-1, 1-4-0) fell to No. 21 UCLA 2-1 in extra time in front of a crowd of 1,002 fans on the SDSU Sports Deck Saturday evening.
The Bruins scored in the opening minute of the second half, but Chad Morgan and Adam Vargas connected for the equalizer in the 72nd minute to force extra time. However, the Bruins scored the game-winner in the 99th minute to give the Aztecs their fourth Pac-12 loss.
"We played the way we wanted to from the start," defender Dane Rozas said after the match. "To be honest, the game was pretty evenly-matched, there were just a few things that we slipped up on and they took advantage of it."
UCLA controlled the pace and tempo for the first 15 minutes of the match and had a span with three shots in three minutes, but then the Aztecs rebounded and allowed just two more shots for the remainder of the second half.
"The first 15 minutes or so we were kind of on our heels and they were pressing us a little bit," Rozas explained. "Then we settled down a bit and started to play our game and get in the rhythm of things."
Despite giving up a goal in the first minute of the second half, the Aztecs played extremely well in the second half, keyed by some strong performances by the Aztecs' bench.
They nearly tied the match up in the 68th minute on a Damian German free kick from the top of the box. With the keeper out of position, he nearly bent it inside the near post, but missed by a couple yards.
Four minutes later, the Aztecs found the back of the net. Chad Morgan, who had subbed in the 59th minute sent a long cross from the left wing to Adam Vargas, who was able to finish with a one-timer. It was Morgan's first career assist and Vargas' first career goal as an Aztec.
The Aztecs' goal tonight. Great ball from Chad Morgan and finished by Adam Vargas. pic.twitter.com/nrguxakStz
— SDSU Men's Soccer (@AztecMensSoccer) October 14, 2018
"I saw Chad lining up on the sideline getting ready to cross and I got in to a good position," Vargas said after the game. It felt really good to score for the team and it put us in a good position to win the game, but obviously the result didn't go as we wanted to."
DJ Villegas, a UCLA transfer who played some key minutes in the second half, had a strike from 30 yards out in the 78th minute that was stopped by an amazing diving save by UCLA's Justin Garces.
"DJ had a great game tonight. He was a spark plug for us," Coach Kirsher praised. "DJ has been an unbelievable teammate all year. He trains as hard as he can despite not getting the minutes he wants."
In extra time, the Bruins had the only shot, the game-winner in the 99th minute. Joab Santoyo sent a low cross from the right wing that Cody Sunquist was able to slip past Max Watkin.
MEN OF THE MATCH – The reserves (DJ Villegas, Hampus Bergdahl, Chad Morgan, Miles Stray & Mac Clarke)
"I can't speak highly enough about what our reserves did for us in the second half. They gave us some great minutes and changed the game for us." Head Coach Lev Kirshner
STAT OF THE MATCH
The Aztecs outshot the Bruins 6-3 in the second half.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
"Getting a thousand fans is a nice crowd in college soccer. I'm very excited by it because it's a big help to our team when they come out and support like that." Head Coach Lev Kirshner on tonight's crowd
THE NOTE I
The Aztecs have held all five of their Pac-12 opponents to 10 shots or less.
THE NOTE II
Through 12 matches, the Aztecs have given up just two first half goals.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs take a break from Pac-12 play next week and will play at the University of San Diego Friday evening.