SAN DIEGO – The Aztec men's soccer team (4-0-2, 1-0-0) kicked off Pac-12 play with a 2-0 win over California (2-3-1, 0-1-0) Thursday evening on the SDSU Sports Deck behind two goals from captain Andre Ochoa.
SDSU earned their fifth shutout in six matches and still hasn't trailed in the 2021 season.
"I'm proud of our guys. We executed the game plan pretty flawlessly," Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. "We only gave up one good chance because
the back line was so good and then we got two great goals from Andre."
The Aztecs struck early, scoring in the fourth minute when Ochoa raced to beat a Cal defender to a Laukoa Santos cross. It was just the first half goal for the Aztecs the season.
SDSU would only allow Cal to attempt one shot in the first half and outshot them 11-8 on the night and held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The Aztecs added to their lead in the 66th minute when Santos poked the ball away from a Golden Bear to Ochoa who juked a defender and fired in a left footer inside the far post from 15 yards away,
Cal's best chance came in the 78th minute when they had a shot up close following a deflection that goalkeeper Jason Castro used quick reflexes to knock away.
Castro (4-0-2) has five shutouts in six starts as an Aztec, allowing just one goal in 580 minutes, a goals allowed average of 0.16.
STAT OF THE MATCH
SDSU allowed just two shots on goal.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs haven't trailed all season.
QUOTE OF THE MATCH
"The team brought so much fight and it was a great team performance all the way from the first minute to the 90th." Captain Andre Ochoa
UP NEXT
The No. 21 Aztecs host No. 23 Stanford (2-2-1, 0-1-0), who lost at UCLA 2-0 Thursday evening.
Ochoa Lifts No. 21 Aztecs to 2-0 Win Over Cal
