SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (2-1-3) defeated Sacramento State (1-5-0) 2-0 on the SDSU Sports Deck Friday night. The Aztecs scored a pair of goals in the first half and secured their first shutout of the season.
“I thought we played our best 45 minutes of the season in the first half,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. "We’ll need more of that at [No. 9] USD on Sunday.
The Aztecs outshot the Hornets 16-14 and held a 9-4 advantage in the first half while maintaining a 62 percent possession rate.
SDSU scored their first goal in the 39th minute on a Nik Orth penalty kick after Gio Aguirre was taken down inside the box. It was Orth’s Pac-12 leading fifth goal of the season and third on a PK.
The Aztecs scored again with one second left in the first half. Nik Orth sent a cross into the box from the left corner towards Jaxson Hutcheon that was misplayed by two Hornet defenders resulting in an own goal.
Sacramento State outshot SDSU in the second half but were unable to create any dangerous opportunities.
SDSU goalkeeper Nic Diana earned his first shutout as an Aztec and collected four saves.
STAT OF THE GAME
Nik Orth has scored five goals in the last four matches.
THE NOTE
After a 2-1 loss to Liberty in the season opener, the Aztecs have recorded five straight results (2-0-3).
UP NEXT
SDSU plays at No. 9 San Diego Sunday at 5 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.