PHOENIX, Ariz. – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (10-5-3) fell to San Jose State (6-7-7) 3-2 in the WAC Tournament semifinals Wednesday evening. The Aztecs held a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute, but then saw the Spartans score three unanswered goals in a 17-minute span.
San Diego State, who won the WAC regular season championship and entered the day No. 45 in the RPI, will now wait to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Aztecs got off to a fast start. Right after the kickoff, they earned a corner kick which set up their first goal. André Puente then headed in Austin Brummett’s corner just 42 seconds into the match. It was the second time SDSU has scored in the opening minute this year.
The Spartans settled in and didn’t allow a shot on goal for the rest of the first half, despite SDSU attempting seven corners in the opening 45 minutes.
Puente scored off another corner in the 51st minute. This time Brummett’s kick went long and right to Beto Apolinar who played the ball perfectly inside the box to Puente. It was Brummett’s fifth assist off a corner in the last six matches.
The Spartans scored 10 minutes later when Cameron Cook scored from the top of the box. It was the first goal the Aztecs had allowed in 482 minutes, a stretch spanning more than five matches.
San Jose State netted the equalizer less than three minutes later when Angel Iniguez scored from 20 yards out.
In the 78th minute, Puente was whistled for his second yellow, which forced the Aztecs to play a man down but also set up a free kick just outside the box that Iniguez scored to put the Spartans up 3-2. This was the first time SDSU had trailed against a WAC opponent all year (797 minutes).
The Aztecs were outshot 16-9 and their only shots on goal were their two goals.
THE NOTE I
Prior to tonight’s match the Aztecs were 9-0-2 when scoring first.
THE NOTE II
SDSU’s 10 wins are their most since the 2011 season.