Kelly Calligan, File Photo

After finishing second in the Pac-10 Conference and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the No. 30 San Diego State men’s soccer team will face a team it knows all too well.

SDSU will face No. 17 UC Santa Barbara – for the third time in less than a year – at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The first two contests were Aztecs losses, with SDSU falling 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to UCSB last season and 1-0 on Sept. 2 this season.

But the Red and Black is hoping it can stay mentally focused on the match and not repeat last year’s meltdown.

“(At the NCAA Tournament contest), we lost track of the game and started taking it out on the (Gauchos),” head coach Lev Kirshner said. “We lost our heads, frankly.”

In the last 15 minutes of the match, two Aztecs were kicked out of the game for physical play, effectively ending any chance they had to fight back on the scoreboard.

Kirshner blamed youth and inexperience.

This season, however, SDSU’s returning seniors have had a year to digest the loss, and Kirshner said he believes they know how to win big games.

“Last year, we were happy to be in the tournament,” Kirshner said. “This year, we had the expectation to be in it. We are here to be one of the nation’s elite.

“Without question, this team is much more talented and efficient with the soccer ball.”

Part of the Aztecs’ success on Saturday will lie in being efficient near UCSB’s goal, as both losses to the Gauchos have been shutouts.

But that is easier said than done.

The Big West Conference regular-season champions gave up just 16 goals in 19 matches this season, good for first in the conference, largely because of junior defender Andy Iro, who won the Big West Defender of the Year for the second straight season.

“(Iro’s) a professional,” Kirshner said. “(He) does a very good job of covering ground. I have nothing but good things to say about (Iro).”

Iro proved instrumental in SDSU’s loss on Sept. 2 by breaking down the Aztec defense on a counter attack and sending a cross to freshman forward Bongomin Otii for the game-winner.

SDSU’s offensive strategy this time is simple.

“Our ball circulation must be efficient and it must be fast,” Kirshner said. “If we move it quickly and get behind their flank, then we’ll have a very successful day.”

Not only do the Aztecs have to penetrate Gaucho territory on the field, they will be running uphill in Gaucho home territory – Harder Stadium – all game long.

“It’s an educated fan base,” Kirshner said. “They understand soccer. It’s more about the energy they are providing for (UCSB).”

Last season in the NCAA Tournament, almost 3,500 fans showed up to support the Gauchos against SDSU.

“It’s a tough environment,” Kirshner said. “It’s a rowdy environment. You have to duck out of the way of flying tortillas ?”

Flying tortillas?

“It’s no joke,” Kirshner said. “They threw tortillas at us last season.”

Despite the tortillas, Kirshner isn’t concerned about his players staying focused in a hostile atmosphere.

“We’ve been in these environments,” Kirshner said. “These kids have had enough experience. We’ve played in places with over 1,000 fans all season long.”

But just in case tortillas are launched onto the field, Kirshner has a plan.

“Bring cheese and a grill,” Kirshner said.

Maybe that’s what was missing the first two games.