SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (2-5-3) lost to Cal State Fullerton (3-3-3) 3-0 on the SDSU Sports Deck Saturday evening. After a scoreless first half, the Titans scored three goals in the second half to hand SDSU the defeat.
“It was a tale of two halves,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. “Soccer is a game of momentum and unfortunately we made some mistakes and Fullerton took advantage.’
SDSU had two opportunities in the first half. The first came in the 14th minute when a Lucas Caffo cross from the left wing was blocked by a sliding Fullerton defender. The referee called the Titans for a hand ball inside the box, giving the Aztecs a penalty kick. However, after video review, the call was overturned.
Shortly after, Nik Orth finished a pass from Jaxson Hutcheon only for the Aztecs to be whistled for offsides. This play was also reviewed, and this time the call was upheld to keep SDSU’s goal off the board.
In the 40th minute, SDSU goalkeeper Nic Diana was given a yellow card for a hard tackle inside the box which gave the Titans a penalty kick. However, Diana made a diving save to his right to prevent Fullerton from taking the lead.
Fullerton’s first two goals came less than three minutes apart. In the 58th minute Jose de la Torre finished an assist from Cesar Aubour and Aiden Brothers. Then in the 61st minute, Fitz Williams finished from long range.
In the 67th minute, SDSU’s Gio Aguirre received a nice long lead pass from Luke Strassbur and slipped it past the charging Titan goalie only for a defender to save just before the ball crossed the end line.
The Titans’ Adan Alvarardo added another goal off a free kick from the left corner in the 85th minute.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Aztecs outshot the Titans 13-11, but Fullerton had seven shots on goal to SDSU’s three.
THE NOTE
Freshman Dylan Mair earned his first career start.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs begin Pac-12 play at Oregon State Wednesday.