The San Diego State men’s soccer team ended its five-game winless streak with two straight wins. The Aztecs first defeated Point Loma Nazarene University 4-0 on Monday and then went on to defeat Clemson University 1-0 on Friday night.
Last Monday’s match against the Sea Lions was not a conference game. However, SDSU showed PLNU no mercy. The Aztecs scored two goals
in the first half
and two goals in the second.
Junior midfielder Kody Duff scored the first goal of the game in the 16th minute from five yards out with assistance from junior midfielder John Pegg. The goal was Duff’s sixth of the year.
In the 40th minute, freshman midfielder Travis Nicklaw was taken down in the box. The Aztecs missed the first penalty attempt, but were allowed another chance after a PLNU infraction. The first attempt was followed by a goal scored off a successful second attempt by junior midfielder Casey Meuser.
The Sea Lions only attempted one shot during the first half while SDSU attempted nine.
SophomoremidfielderTylerSmith scored the Aztecs’ third goal in the 58th minute from seven yards out. Sophomore defender Evyn Hewett was credited with the assist.
Still, SDSU wasn’t done scoring.
In the 68th minute, sophomore defender Anthony Gooch kicked a high ball from five yards out right over PLNU’s goalkeeper and into the net. Junior defender Robbie Freise was credited with the assist.
SDSU outshot PLNU 5-2 in the second half. The Aztecs didn’t allow the Sea Lions to score a goal the entire game.
“Point Loma was a really important game because we wanted to get back on the winning streak and I thought our team executed everything really well,” Hewett said. “It definitely got our confidence back up and it got us ready for Clemson.”
Four days later, SDSU went on the road and defeated Clemson 1-0.
During the first and second half of the game, neither team could find the back of the net.
The Aztecs tied the Tigers 5-5 in shots during the first half and outshot them 8-6 in the second.
Then, as overtime play began, Hewett scored the game-winning goal for SDSU from 10 yards out in the 93rd minute, with assistance from junior midfielder Kevin Bick and junior midfielder Blake Wise. This was Hewett’s second goal of the season.
“From my angle at the goal, I wasn’t positive what happened,” junior goalkeeper Blake Hylen said. “I knew it was a cross from Blake Wise and Evyn (Hewett) just got the punch on it to put it back post. I couldn’t see if it was going in or not and it did; I was very excited when it did.”
Pegg and Hewett led the team in shots with three apiece. Senior midfielder Jose Altamirano, Pegg, Meuser and Hewett each had one shot on goal.
Defensively, SDSU allowed the Tigers only one shot on goal. Hylen had one save while CU’s junior goalkeeper Cody Mizell had three.
The Aztecs are now 6-6-2 overall and 1-4-1 in conference play.
SDSU will face the University of Washington at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Seattle.
“We just need to keep winning,” Hylen said. “That’s what we are going to have to do over the next five games.”
