Sept. 30, 2009

SAN DIEGO -

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Aztecs Begin Fifth Season of Pac-10 Men's Soccer; Take Five-Game Unbeaten Streak on the Road to Washington, No. 37 Oregon State
The San Diego State men's soccer team puts its five-game undefeated streak on the line this Friday when it begins its Pac-10 portion of the schedule at Washington. The Aztecs (3-2-2), who are coming off a pair of victories that won them the Nike Aztec Classic last weekend, will meet the Huskies (3-4-1) at 7:30 p.m. PT in Seattle, before tangling with Oregon State at 1 p.m. PT Sunday in Corvallis, Ore.

SDSU has already played one of the toughest schedules in the nation as its 13 scheduled opponents have combined for a .648 winning percentage (58-29-11). If you count each of its Pac-10 opponents twice (San Diego State meets each conference team home and away), it's even better at .659 (82-39-14). Only two of its 13 opponents currently have a below-.500 record (both are one-game under), while eight are projected by Top Drawer Soccer to make the 2009 NCAA tournament, including Sunday's foe Oregon State (No. 37), which sit at 4-2-2.

Since joining the Pac-10 in 2005, the Aztecs are 35-28-19 (.543), including a 14-13-13 (.514) mark in league matches. Over the four-year span, SDSU has the third-best conference record with a pair of runner-up finishes and an average placing of 2.75 (just better than third place).

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 is 3-0-2 with 12 goals (2.40 goals per game) scored over that span. In the streak, the Aztecs tied Penn (2008 NCAA participant), defeated Wisconsin (2008 final RPI of 38), tied Wisconsin-Green Bay (currently 6-1-2 and receiving national votes in two polls, was nationally ranked), beat No. 6 and 2006 national champion UC Santa Barbara and defeated Princeton (was receiving national votes).

Game #8: San Diego State (3-2-2, 0-0-0 Pac-10) at Washington (3-4-1, 0-0-0 Pac-10)
Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. PT, Husky Soccer Field (3,000), Seattle, Wash.
Series Info: Washington leads, 5-3-5 | Pac-10 Era: Washington leads, 2-1-5
In San Diego: Washington leads, 2-1-2 | In Seattle: Washington leads, 1-0-3
Neutral: Series tied, 2-2-0 | Streak: Tied, 1
Live Coverage: Live video and gametracker on GoAztecs.com

Game #9: San Diego State at Oregon State (4-2-2, 0-0-0 Pac-10 entering Friday's game with UCLA)
Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. PT, Paul Lorenz Field (1,500), Corvallis, Ore.
Series Info: Oregon State leads, 6-4-1 | Pac-10 Era: Oregon State leads, 4-3-1
In San Diego: SDSU leads, 3-2-0 | In Corvallis: Oregon State leads, 4-0-1
Neutral: SDSU leads, 1-0-0 | Streak: Oregon State, 2
Live Coverage: Gametracker on GoAztecs.com

Examining the Aztecs
San Diego State enters the weekend on a five-game unbeaten streak with its last loss coming on Sept. 6 on an own goal to San Diego. Since then, the squad is 3-0-2 with 12 goals (2.40 goals per game) scored over that span. In the streak, the Aztecs tied Penn (2008 NCAA participant), defeated Wisconsin (2008 final RPI of 38), tied Wisconsin-Green Bay (currently 6-1-2 and receiving national votes in two polls, was nationally ranked), beat No. 6 and 2006 national champion UC Santa Barbara and defeated Princeton (was receiving national votes).

Senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) leads the team in scoring with 10 points on four goals and two assists. Among the league leaders, Toft is second in shots per game (3.00), fourth in points per game (1.43) and fifth in goals per game (0.57). Toft has racked up numerous accolades already, including twice being named a tournament offensive most valuable player (Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central & Nike Aztec Soccer Classic) and earning a spot on the Soccer America Team of the Week on Sept. 29. Junior Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) has eight points on three goals and two assists, and was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 28. Freshman Morgan Sacco (Greeley, Colo.) (one goal, three assists), senior College Soccer News preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) (one goal, one assist) and junior Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) (one goal, one assist) are the other top scorers for the Aztecs. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) is 3-2-1 with a 1.40 goals against average in 579-plus 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 35-28-19, 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 13 scheduled opponents have combined for a .648 winning percentage (58-29-11). If you count each of its Pac-10 opponents twice (the Aztecs meet each conference team home and away), it's even better at .659 (82-39-14).

Over the Aztecs' 18-game schedule, currently only Washington (3-4-1) and Wisconsin (2-3-2) have a below-.500 record and both are just one game below

Of San Diego State's 18 games, 13 (77.2 percent) are against teams who currently are either nationally ranked or receiving votes. Highest ranking of its opponents: UCLA (No. 2 - Soccer America, twice), California (No. 6 - Soccer America & Top Drawer Soccer, twice), UC Santa Barbara (No. 9 - Top Drawer Soccer), Stanford (No. 16 - College Soccer News & Soccer Times, twice), Michigan State (No. 21 - College Soccer News), Loyola Marymount (No. 34 - Top Drawer Soccer), Oregon State (No. 37 - Top Drawer Soccer, twice), San Diego (No. 42 - Top Drawer Soccer) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (receiving votes - NSCAA & College Soccer News).

Of the team's 13 opponents, eight are predicted to make the NCAA tournament according to Top Drawer Soccer, including California, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Stanford, Michigan State, Loyola Marymount, Oregon State and San Diego

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

Reza, Toft Earn National Accolades
Junior Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) and senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) each earned national accolades after leading SDSU to a pair of victories and the Nike Aztec Classic title last weekend. Reza was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week (Sept. 28), while Toft was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week (Sept. 29).

Reza scored two goals and assisted on another as the Aztecs defeated UC Santa Barbara, 4-2, on Friday. The Gauchos came into the weekend ranked sixth 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. He was named to the all-tournament team for his performance.

Toft scored a goal in each of the team's games, including the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Princeton on Sunday. Toft, who scored the Aztecs' fourth tally against UCSB on Friday, was named the Nike Aztec Classic Most Valuable Offensive Player, his second such honor this season.

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 19 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 Sept. 6, 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.

Scouting the Huskies
Washington takes its 3-4-1 record into Friday's meeting with the Aztecs after beating Cal Poly, 3-1, in its last game at home on Sept. 27. Brent Richards leads the Huskies in points (10) and goals (four), while his two assists are tied with two others - Ryan Moore (three goals) and Jamie Finch - for the most on the squad. Rylan Hawkins has played all 766:17 in net and is 3-4-1 with two shutouts and a 1.06 goals against average.

Last season, then No. 23 Washington defeated SDSU, 2-1, in San Diego on Oct. 19 before the two teams tied, 2-2, in Seattle a week later. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 5-3-5, with all five ties coming over the past four years (San Diego State's Pac-10 era).

Previewing the Beavers
Heading into its Friday match against UCLA, Oregon State is 4-2-2 and ranked No. 37 by Top Drawer Soccer. The Beavers, who are 3-1-0 at home, are led by Danny Mwanga and Colin Mitchell, who have five goals and four goals, respectively. Steve Spangler has been one of the league's top goalkeepers, recording a 4-2-2 record with a 0.83 goals against average over 755-plus minutes.

OSU won both meetings last year (2-1 in San Diego, 1-0 (ot) in Corvallis) and is 4-0-1 all-time against the Aztecs in Oregon. The Beavers also have a slight edge in SDSU's Pac-10 era, going 4-3-1 since 2005.