SAN DIEGO – Senior captain Pablo Pelaez scored two goals to help lift the Aztec men's soccer team (2-1-0) to a 2-1 win over Belmont in the first match of the Courtyard San Diego Central Aztec Soccer Classic Friday evening.
The Bruins got on the board just 69 seconds into the match, but the Aztecs rallied to score a pair of goals to earn the victory. This was their second consecutive come-from-behind win.
"I'm very happy with our victory tonight," head coach Lev Kirshner said after the match. "Belmont is a very organized team with an outstanding coach. They did a great job making this game extremely difficult for us. I'm very proud of how our group came back again after trailing by a goal."
The Aztecs outshot the Bruins 17-7, including a 9-2 advantage in the second half.
Belmont's first goal came from Esteban Lestido on a strike from 25 yards out that caught the SDSU backline off guard.
Ten minutes later the Aztecs tied it up. Adam Vargas sent in a cross into the box from the left corner that Tevenn Roux flicked to Pablo Pelaez, who put it away. Roux has had an assist in all three of the Aztecs' matches.
Belmont had five corners in the first half, including three in a minute span, but goalkeeper Max Watkin and the SDSU defense held their ground.
Pelaez scored the game-winning goal on a free kick from 30 yards out in the 57th minute. It was a low line drive rocket that made its way through a crowd of Bruin defenders. Pelaez has recorded eight points through SDSU's three matches.
"Pablo has been scoring on those type of kicks in training," Kirshner explained. "His strike was to be on target, and it had some movement and it got their keeper side-stepping."
The Aztecs limited Belmont to two shots in the second half, although both were on frame.
Goalkeeper Max Watkin improved his record to 2-0-0 and recorded four saves.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Pablo Pelaez – Scored both the Aztecs' goals.
STAT OF THE MATCH
There were 42 fouls in the match and five cautions.
THE NOTE I
The Aztec have attempted 38 shots in their last two matches.
THE NOTE II
Sophomore Arturo Chavez earned his first career start.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
"We gave up a goal in the first minute and then shut them out for 89 minutes. They had some dangerous services on corner kicks, but aside from that, I don't feel there was much danger put upon us. Organizationally we were much better than we were at UNLV. Our defending was far better on set pieces tonight." Head Coach Lev Kirshner
UP NEXT
The Aztecs host Detroit Mercy Sunday evening at 6 p.m. to close out the Courtyard San Diego Central Aztec Soccer Classic. The Titans fell to San Diego 1-0 Friday evening. The Aztecs will be looking to win their third tournament title in the last four years.
Pablo Pelaez Scores Two Goals as Aztecs Down Belmont 2-1
