Nov. 4, 2009

SAN DIEGO -

Complete Release in PDF Format

No. 25 San Diego State Men's Soccer Wraps Up Regular Season Home Schedule With Pac-10 Foes Washington, Oregon State
The No. 25 San Diego State men's soccer team puts its four-game unbeaten streak on the line this weekend when it welcomes Pac-10 opponents Washington and Oregon State. It will be the final two regular season home matches of the season for the Aztecs (6-4-5), who sit in third place in the Pac-10 standings with 11 points and a 3-2-2 record. Friday's contest against the Huskies (4-5-6, 1-1-5 Pac-10) is set for a 2:30 p.m. PT start time, while Sunday's match against the Beavers (7-6-2, 3-4-0 Pac-10) is slated for noon. There will be a special ceremony prior to Sunday's game which will honor SDSU's six seniors - Steve Beitashour (San Jose, Calif.), Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.), Matt McManus (Santa Clarita, Calif.), Daniel Ortega (San Diego/Eastlake HS), Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.) and Jamel Wallace (San Diego/Oceanside HS).

San Diego State, which is tied for 25th in the country in the latest Soccer America poll, ranked 28th by Top Drawer Soccer and receiving votes in two other polls, is 3-0-1 over its last four games and 6-2-4 (.667) since Sept. 11.

The Aztecs have played 10 overtime matches this season, one short of the NCAA record set by St. Louis in 2003 (according to the NCAA record book) and two more than the previous school record of eight (set in 2001 and equaled in 2005).

Game #16: Washington (4-5-6, 1-1-5 Pac-10) at San Diego State (6-4-5, 3-2-2 Pac-10)
Friday, Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m. PT, SDSU Sports Deck (1,500), San Diego, Calif.
Series Info: Washington leads, 5-3-6 | In San Diego: Washington leads, 2-1-2
In Seattle: Washington leads, 1-0-4 | Neutral: Series tied, 2-2-0
Pac-10 Era: Washington leads, 2-1-6 | Pac-10 Era in San Diego: Series tied, 1-1-2
Pac-10 Era in Seattle: UW leads, 1-0-4 | Streak: Tied, 2
Live Coverage: Gametracker on GoAztecs.com

Game #17: Oregon State (7-6-2, 3-4-0 Pac-10) at San Diego State
Sunday, Nov. 8, Noon PT, SDSU Sports Deck (1,500), San Diego, Calif.
Series Info: Oregon State leads, 7-4-1 | In San Diego: SDSU leads, 3-2-0
In Corvallis: Oregon State leads, 5-0-1 | Neutral: SDSU leads, 1-0-0
Pac-10 Era: Oregon State leads, 5-3-1 | Pac-10 Era in San Diego: SDSU leads, 2-1-0
Pac-10 Era in Corvallis: OSU leads, 4-0-1 | Pac-10 Era at Neutral: SDSU leads, 1-0-0
Streak: Oregon State, 3 | Live Coverage: Gametracker on GoAztecs.com

Examining the Aztecs
San Diego State is coming off a 1-1, double-overtime tie at Michigan State on Sunday that saw it stretch its unbeaten streak to four games. Junior Khadim Diouf scored for the Aztecs, who outshot the host Spartans, 18-5, including a 6-3 advantage on net. Riding the emotions of Senior Day, MSU came into the weekend with a four-game winning streak, including a 1-0, double-overtime victory at seven-time NCAA champion Indiana.

Diouf's goal, which came in the 77th minute, happened when he took a pass from junior Raymundo Reza down the left side, and beat the Spartan defense and goalkeeper from eight yards out. Senior Daniel Ortega was also credited with the assist on the equalizer, his team-leading seventh this year and most by an Aztec since Kenny Fechner had 10 in 2003.

Diouf's goal was one of many quality chances for San Diego State as freshman Morgan Sacco reamed a shot off the post in the 54th minute. Other good opportunities on the day came from Reza, Ortega, sophomore Daniel Steres, and freshmen Jose Altamirano and Devon Sandoval. Redshirt junior Brad Byrns made two stops in 90 minutes.

On the season, Reza leads the team in points (16), goals (six), shots (34) and shots on goal (16). He also has four assists and two game-winning goals. Senior Evan Toft (Aurora, Colo.), who has missed the entire Pac-10 season and the past eight matches, is still second on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists. Diouf has eight points on three goals and two assists, while senior preseason All-American Nick Cardenas (three goals, one assist), Sacco (two goals, three assists) and Ortega (seven assists) each have seven points. Byrns is 6-4-4 with a 1.18 GAA over 1,374:19.

A Look at the Conference Race
With two weeks left in league play, SDSU still has a chance for its first-ever Pac-10 crown. The Aztecs currently are in third at 3-2-2, just three points behind co-leaders UCLA (4-1-2) and Stanford (4-3-2).

The Bruins seem to have the upperhand, however, with all three of their remaining league games at home, where they are unbeaten at 5-0-0, including a Nov. 14 match vs. San Diego State. SDSU has three conference games left as well with two coming this weekend on Montezuma Mesa. Stanford has one left, Nov. 14 at home against Bay Area-rival California. Oregon State (nine points, 3-4-0) and Washington (eight points, 1-1-5) could also make a run at the title with some wins and some help from others in the conference.

Click on the PDF file for the complete release, including notes, stats and box scores.