Sept. 23, 2009

SAN DIEGO -

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The San Diego State men's soccer team will look to extend its three-game unbeaten streak this weekend when it plays host to the first annual Nike Aztec Soccer Classic at SDSU Sports Deck. It won't be easy for the Aztecs (1-2-2), who have already played one of the toughest schedules in the nation (opponents winning percentage is .677, including future opponents it's .699), as they will meet sixth-ranked UC Santa Barbara and once-beaten Princeton, which is receiving votes in two national polls. No. 25 UC Irvine is the other program in the four-team tournament.

SDSU and the Gauchos (5-1-1) are scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Friday following the UC Irvine-Princeton game (1:30 p.m.). UCSB, one of four former national champions (2006) on San Diego State's schedule this season, earned the No. 15 national seed a year ago and will be making its first trip to the SDSU Sports Deck since 2004, one year before the Aztecs became a fully-funded program. The first 250 SDSU students in attendance will receive a free Aztec scarf as part of the Student Giveaway Weekend.

SDSU will then play the Tigers at noon Sunday. Princeton enters the weekend with a 4-1-1 record and is one of four Ivy League schools receiving national recognition. UCSB and UCI will meet in the other Sunday tournament game (and Big West match) at 6:30 p.m.

San Diego State hasn't lost since it yielded an own goal against San Diego in a 1-0 setback on Sept. 6. Since then, the squad has played three consecutive double-overtime matches (last time that happened was Oct. 26-31, 2001) and is 1-0-2. The Aztecs tied Penn (3-1-2), 2-2, on Sept. 11, defeated Wisconsin (2-2-2), 3-2, on Sept. 13 and tied Wisconsin-Green Bay (5-0-2), which is ranked has high as No. 25 by Soccer America, 2-2.

Examining the Aztecs
San Diego State enters the weekend on a three-game unbeaten streak with its last loss coming on Sept. 6 on an own goal to San Diego. Since then, the squad has played three consecutive double-overtime matches (last time that happened was Oct. 26-31, 2001) and is 1-0-2. The Aztecs tied Penn (3-1-2), 2-2, on Sept. 11, defeated Wisconsin (2-2-2), 3-2, on Sept.13 and tied Wisconsin-Green Bay (5-0-2), which is ranked has high as No. 25 by Soccer America, 2-2. Both of SDSU's losses were by a lone goal. On Sept. 1, San Diego State fell to current No. 20 (Soccer America) Loyola Marymount (4-2-0), 2-1, and on Sept. 6, the Aztecs dropped the 1-0 decision to the Toreros (4-2-0), who are receiving votes in the latest Soccer Times national poll.

Senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) leads SDSU in scoring with six points on two goals and two assists. Toft, who is tied for first in the Pac-10 with 18 shots, also is tops on the squad in goals, assists (tied), shots, shots on goal (tied) and game-winning goals (one). Freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) is second on the team with four points, while his two helpers are tied with Toft for the 96th-most in the nation (0.40 per game). Other Colorado players Raymundo Reza (Denver) and Nick Cardenas (Thornton) have three points apiece on one goal and an assist, while junior Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal), freshman Devon Sandoval (Albuquerque, N.M.) and sophomore Daniel Steres (Calabasas, Calif.) each have one goal for two points. Redshirt junior Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) has done the bulk of playing in net for San Diego State and is 1-2-1 with a 1.58 goals against average over 399-plus minutes. Redshirt sophomore R.J. Smith is 0-0-1 with a 1.64 GAA in 110 minutes.

At the Helm
Lev Kirshner is in his 10th year as the head coach and 13th season overall. Kirshner, just one of three coaches in the 40-year history of the program, has brought SDSU back to the national spotlight with back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Pac-10 (2006-07) and two trips to the NCAA tournament in the past four seasons.

Since the men's soccer team earned its full allotment of scholarships in 2005, the Aztecs have gone 32-28-18, including a 14-13-13 mark in the Pac-10.

Over his nine seasons, Kirshner has coached two All-America selections, three Academic All-America picks, eight professional players, six all-Far West selections and 40 all-conference picks.

To Be the Best, You Have to Beat the Best
Former WWE champion and hall of famer Ric Flair used to say, "To be the best, you have to beat the best." That saying can't apply any more than to this year's Aztecs.

Looking at SDSU's schedule, consider the following:

* San Diego State's opponents so far have combined to go 18-7-6 (.677). If you look at its composite schedule (with future games), it's even better at .699 (65-24-14).

* Over the Aztecs' 18-game schedule, currently only Washington has a below-.500 record and it is only one game below at 2-3-2. SDSU will play the Huskies twice in Pac-10 play.

* Of San Diego State's 18 games, 14 (77.8 percent) are against teams who currently are either nationally ranked or receiving votes. Highest ranking of its opponents: California (No. 2 - Top Drawer Soccer; Aztecs play twice), UCLA (No. 3 - Soccer America, twice), UC Santa Barbara (No. 6 - Top Drawer Soccer), Michigan State (No. 18 - College Soccer News & Soccer Times), Loyola Marymount (No. 20 - Soccer America), Wisconsin-Green Bay (No. 25 - Soccer America), Stanford (No. 32 - Top Drawer Soccer, twice), Oregon State (No. 38 - Top Drawer Soccer, twice), San Diego (No. 41 - Top Drawer Soccer) and Princeton (receiving votes - NSCAA/adidas & College Soccer News).

* Of SDSU's 13 opponents, four are former national champions (Michigan State, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Wisconsin)

* Of the Aztecs 18 games, seven are against teams who made the NCAA tournament a year ago (California twice, Michigan State, Penn, UCLA twice and UC Santa Barbara)

* Of San Diego State's 13 opponents, two earned national seeds (No. 4 Michigan State and No. 15 UC Santa Barbara) in last year's NCAA tournament

Aztec Warriors
Not to make excuses, but San Diego State has had to battle many injuries and sicknesses through the early part of the season, yet is still just one game below .500 at 1-2-2.

After starting the season with 25 players, the Aztecs have dressed every healthy body (minus one redshirt) over the past three games and, because of injuries, have had pre-match rosters of just 17 (Penn), 18 (Wisconsin) and 16 (Wisconsin-Green Bay). SDSU's record over that span? Unbeaten at 1-0-2.

San Diego State has also played without starters Devon Sandoval (two games), Khadim Diouf (one game), Daniel Ortega (one game), Steve Beitashour (one game), Jamel Wallace (one game) and Brad Byrns (one game) at different points this season. In addition, junior forward Michael Rocha, who had three assists in 2008, has yet to play in a match this year. Only three players - Nick Cardenas, Raymundo Reza and Evan Toft - have started all five games in 2009.

Aztecs Picked to Finish Fifth in Pac-10.....Again
Despite returning eight starters from last season, including six all-conference selections, the San Diego State men's soccer team has been picked to finish fifth in the Pac-10 Conference in the preseason poll voted on by the league's coaches on Aug. 13.

SDSU picked up nine points, three behind fourth-place Washington (12). California is predicted to win the regular season title with 24 points, including four first-place votes, while UCLA grabbed the other two first-place votes and is picked to finish second with 22 points. Stanford is third with 15 points, followed by the Huskies (12), the Aztecs (9) and Oregon State (8).

San Diego State, which has never been picked higher than fourth in its five preseason polls, has finished the season better than each of its predicted finishes. In its inaugural Pac-10 season in 2005, SDSU was picked sixth, yet managed a fourth-place finish. The Aztecs finished second in each of their next two seasons despite being picked fourth and fifth, respectively, in the preseason poll. Last year, San Diego State was picked fifth but finished third in league play. Aztec Men's Soccer Recruiting Class Ranked No. 22 in the Nation

San Diego State's 2009 men's soccer recruiting class has been ranked as the 22nd-best in America by College Soccer News. It is the third top-25 class by SDSU in the past four years and fourth top-40 recruiting class over the past five campaigns.

The accolades of the five-player group include, but are not limited to, an under-17, 18 and 20 U.S. national team starter, numerous high school All-Americans, multiple starters on ODP teams, a nationally-ranked goalkeeper and one of the top defenders from the state of Texas.

On the website, the Aztecs are one spot behind perennial power Indiana (21st) and ahead of South Carolina (23rd), Harvard (24th) and Santa Clara (25th). Other schools behind San Diego State include Big East members St. John's (26th), Connecticut (27th) and Georgetown (28th), Big West programs Cal Poly (33rd) and UC Irvine (38th), and SEC power Clemson (35th).

Cardenas Named to College Soccer News Preseason All-America Team
San Diego State's Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo./Horizon HS) was named a preseason All-American by College Soccer News in early July. A senior, Cardenas was picked as a third-team selection by the website after being a third-team member in 2007 as well.

A defender, Cardenas has anchored a backline which has posted 18 shutouts over his three-year career. Last season, Cardenas tallied a career-high four assists while leading the team in minutes played (1,646).

A member of the 2008 preseason M.A.C. Hermann Award Watch List, Cardenas became the first Aztec to be named to three straight NSCAA/adidas all-Far West teams since Kyle Whittemore (1985-88) when he was picked as a second-team selection in December. He also garnered all-Pac-10 Conference accolades for the third consecutive year.

A 2006 U.S. U-20 National Team Camp call-up, Cardenas has twice been named a national player of the week (Sept. 17, 2007 by Top Drawer Soccer and Nov. 1, 2006 by NSCAA/adidas). In 2006, Cardenas was picked as the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, as well as a College Soccer News All-Freshman and a Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie first-team selection.

Altamirano Named One of 100 Freshmen to Keep an Eye On
San Diego State men's soccer incoming player Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) recently has been picked by College Soccer News as one of the 100 Freshmen From Coast To Coast To Keep An Eye On. Current Aztecs who have previously been named to the preseason list include seniors Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS) and Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS), and redshirt sophomore Gemechu Abraham (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton HS).

Altamirano (5-7, 135) comes to The Mesa as the most heralded recruit in recent history. Altamirano is a member of three U.S. national team age groups (U-20, U-18, U-17) and is a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American (2006-08). Altamirano, who ESPNRISE.com ranks as the third-best prospect in the country and Top Drawer Soccer.com rates as the fifth, also garnered All-America accolades from EA Sports, Parade Magazine and ESPNRISE.com after the 2008 campaign. Additionally, Altamirano was picked as the CIF Player of the Year and San Diego County's Player of the Year.

Aztec Men's Soccer and Kick for Hope Team Up to Raise Money for Africa
The San Diego State men's soccer team recently concluded a successful soccer clinic with Kick for Hope, a nonprofit organization that organizes soccer events to raise money for charities in Africa. It benefits children in Africa whose lives are ravaged by poverty and disease such as HIV/aids and malaria.

Following the Aztecs' game against San Diego on Sunday, SDSU head coach Lev Kirshner and the rest of the men's soccer team ran a one-hour soccer clinic for participating boys and girls from the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). All the benefits went directly to Kick for Hope.

"We are extremely grateful to SDSU for hosting the AYSO clinic to benefit Kick for Hope," Kick for Hope President Kristen Chandler said. "While raising $550 to support our efforts, we also raised awareness among the youth and their families about the struggles facing African children, who like them, have a passion for soccer. We hope each player left with a sense of satisfaction that their participation will not only impact their game, but will also impact on the lives of some of the poorest children in the world."

In addition to the Kick for Hope soccer clinic with the AYSO players, Kirshner also did a special coaches clinic with various coaches of club teams in the area. Some of the topics Kirshner focused on included practice organization, attacking and defending techniques and strength and conditioning methods, to name a few.

A Glance at the Gouchos
UC Santa Barbara brings a 5-1-1 record into the weekend with its only loss coming to Loyola Marymount (2-1) on Sept. 13, the same LMU squad that SDSU lost to by the same score in its opener on Sept. 1. The Gauchos are 3-0-1 away from home after defeating Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2-0, on Sept. 18 and tying Wisconsin, 2-2, two days later (The Aztecs defeated the Badgers, 3-2, on Sept. 13). UCSB is ranked No. 6 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, No. 7 by NSCAA, No. 9 by Soccer Times, No. 11 by Soccer America and No. 13 by College Soccer News.

Michael Nonni leads the team in scoring with 11 points on three goals and five assists. Martin Hedevag (four goals, one assist), David Walker (four goals) and Danny Barrera (two goals, four assists) have also contributed offensively for UCSB. Sam Hayden has played all 660:25 in net and is 5-1-1 with a 0.95 goals against average.

SDSU leads the all-time series, 17-12-3, including a 8-5-1 advantage in San Diego. San Diego State's last victory over UC Santa Barbara, however, was a 2-1 triumph in Santa Barbara on Sept. 1, 1998. Since then, the Aztecs are 0-7-1 over the eight meetings. The last meeting between the two schools was Nov. 11, 2006, when UCSB escaped with a 2-1 victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament and went onto win its first national championship. Current SDSU seniors Daniel Ortega (two shots on goal), Evan Toft (two shots), Steve Beitashour (one shot) and Nick Cardenas each started the match for San Diego State.

Previewing Princeton
The Tigers are off to a 4-1-0 start heading into their match against UC Irvine on Friday.

Josh Walburn leads the squad in points (10), goals (five), shots (16), shots on goal (eight) and game-winning goals (three). Antoine Hoppenot has scored twice, while Matt Sanner and Teddy Schenider have one goal apiece. Sean Lynch has logged all 470 minutes in net and is 4-1-0 with a 0.77 goals against average.

Sunday will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Click on the complete release for more information, including notes, stats and box scores.