SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (3-7-7) played Utah Valley (8-2-3) to a 2-2 draw in a rainy non-conference matchup Wednesday evening. Both Wolverines goals came on penalty kicks that were the result of UVU challenges and overturned calls, one of which came in the 89th minute.
“We played well in the second half,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. “We challenged the guys to be brave at the half and they responded well. From an intensity standpoint, we executed our gameplan pretty well.”
All four goals came in the second half with the Aztecs striking first. Max Mair scored the first of his two goals in the 51st minute following a Brecken Bowers long throw in that was headed backwards by Owen Faris to Mair.
In the 58th minute the Wolverines tied it up on an Adem Arous penalty kick that came after it was determined that Faris had pulled a Wolverine’s jersey inside the box.
SDSU retook the lead three minutes later on a corner kick. Yahir Ocampo Navarro kicked it short to Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizarraga who crossed it into Mair, who headed it in to complete his first collegiate brace.
The Wolverines’ game-tying goal came with 65 seconds remaining after a UVU challenge that determined that Daniel Prentice had pushed a Wolverine in the back while receiving a service at the top of the box.
Trevor Wilson got his fourth start of the season in goal and made three saves.
Utah Valley outshot the Aztecs 20-9 (5-4 in shots on goal) and held an 8-1 advantage in corners.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Electing to rest their regulars for the non-conference match, all 11 SDSU starters were different from their last match at California Baptist Saturday.
THE NOTE
This was SDSU’s seventh draw on the year, a new school record.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play at UC Riverside Saturday night.