RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The San Diego State men’s soccer team (3-7-8, 1-0-4) came back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at UC Riverside (4-7-5, 1-2-2) Saturday evening to remain undefeated in Pac-12 play.
The Aztecs scored both their goals in a three-minute span, with the match-tying goal coming on a beautiful bending free kick from freshman Gio Aguirre in the 70th minute.
“Credit to UCR. They had us on our toes in the first half,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said after the match. “But we showed our trademark resiliency to get back in the match and pick up another important point on the road and stay as the only undefeated team in the conference.”
Riverside scored their first goal in the 22nd minute on a Tarek Hamideh penalty kick. They then extended their lead in the 60th minute when Adrian Diaz finished an assist from Ryan Guerra.
SDSU got on the board in the 68th minute after a corner kick. Carson Ballagh’s service was punched out by the UCR keeper only to be volleyed back towards the box by Luke Fischer. Max Mair then knocked it in for his third goal in the last two matches.
177 seconds later the Aztecs had a free kick just outside the top of the box. Gio Aguirre bent it over the short side of the Highlander wall and into the top left corner of the goal for the equalizer.
SDSU goalkeeper Nic Diana had four saves.
The Aztecs were outshot 11-8 and UCR held a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal.
With the draw, the Aztecs remain in third place in the Pac-12 entering the final match of the season. If SDSU wins or ties UC San Diego on Saturday, they will make the Pac-12 tournament.
STAT OF THE MATCH
All four of SDSU’s goals in the last two matches came off set pieces.
THE NOTE
This was SDSU’s third straight draw and eighth on the season, a school record.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs host UC San Diego in the regular season finale next Saturday at 7 p.m.