SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (5-7-1, 1-1-1) came back to tie UNLV (4-5-5,0-0-3) 1-1 on the SDSU Sports Deck Sunday night.
The Aztecs allowed just one shot on goal, but the Rebels made it count and scored off a corner kick in the 77th minute. However, the Aztecs were able to score the equalizer less than four minutes later when Terence Okoeguale converted a penalty kick.
“In conference play, there are wild games with tight margins,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. "I’m proud of our fight after conceding the goal. I thought we dominated, especially in the second half, so it was frustrating to give up that goal.”
After the shots were even at three a piece in the first half, the Aztecs controlled the tempo in the second frame. SDSU outshot the Rebels 12-6 in the second 45 minutes and had a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal.
SDSU’s best opportunity in run of play came in the 65th minute following a long throw in from Josh Lucas that found Dylan Presto’s head in the box, but he missed just wide.
The Rebels’ goal came in the 77th minute when Manolo Vazquez headed in Bryce Allred’s corner kick.
“Set pieces have been our Achilles heel this year,” Hopkins lamented.
SDSU responded quickly though after Lucas Caffo, a little used reserve, drew a penalty and yellow card on the Rebel goalkeeper for crashing into him when charging out of the box.
Okoeguale then calmly put home the penalty to tie the match at 1-1.
STAT OF THE MATCH
There were a combined nine yellow cards in the match.
THE NOTE
SDSU gave up a season-low one shot on goal.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs host Utah Tech next Saturday at 7 p.m.