Oct. 27 - Nov. 2, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Sports
Men’s soccer shut out against Stanford By Juan Daniel Avila SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The San Diego State men’s soccer (7-42, 2-4-0 Pac-12 Conference) team was shocked at Stanford (5-5-3, 2-3-1 Pac-12 Conference) on Thursday night after losing 4-0 at the Cagan Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. The Aztecs weren’t able to contain the Cardinal offense, leading the Scarlet and Black to their worst goal deficit loss of the season. “Tough one tonight but Stanford was due for an explosion, and it just happened on the wrong night for our sake,” head coach Ryan Hopkins said. Entering the match, the Aztecs only allowed six goals through their 12 games of the season. This match marked the second time SDSU has allowed more than one goal in a match and the first time they have lost by four goals this season, making it their worst game on the scoresheet. The Cardinal outshot the Aztecs 14-8 with nine of their shots on target. Stanford scored two goals in each half and only struggled on three shots from the Aztecs. Stanford would go up on the scoreboard in the first three minutes of the game with a goal by senior Zach Ryan off a cross assist from the right side of the pitch from sophomore midfielder Carlo Agostinelli to start off 1-0. The Aztecs would get caught off guard again in the 42nd minute with a cross from the right side of the field from Cardinal freshman midfielder Will Reilly who found junior forward Gabe Segal to make it 2-0. Stanford would shock SDSU again in the first 85 seconds of the second half after junior Blake Bowen was whistled for a
foul inside the box for the Cardinal to be awarded a penalty kick. Ryan would be the one to take the kick which got past the hands of sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Castro which would put up Stanford 3-0. SDSU’s main opportunity to convert a goal came in the 62nd minute with a shot from senior Laukoa Santos who forced the Cardinal junior goalkeeper Matt Frank to dive and deflect the shot but Bowen would fire a low ball straight to goal making Frank react twice to keep the clean sheet for Stanford. The last goal of the game came in the 85th minute after the Aztecs failed to clear a dangerous ball in the box, which opened up an opportunity for the Cardinal to find a cross from the left side of the pitch which landed on sophomore defender Ryan Dunn who stroke the ball with his right foot to put it past Castro one last time to finish the Aztecs’ nightmare with a 4-0 shutout. The only stat the Aztecs led over the Cardinal was in fouls (12-8). Castro collected five saves but struggled throughout the night against an aggressive Stanford offense. “We need to dust ourselves off and get ready for the biggest game of our season Sunday against Cal,” Hopkins said. “I expect a big-time response from our young and growing team.” SDSU had one more away game in northern California against the University of California, Berkeley on Sunday at 3 p.m but the game was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Instead, SDSU will return home and take on San Diego Christian on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of SDSU Athletics
Men’s soccer has been shut out in four of their last five games, including their latest game against Stanford after falling 4-0 to the Cardinal.
Men’s tennis well represented during ITA Southwest Regional By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR
Eight players and four doubles teams participated in the ITA Southwest Regional Championship at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center at Pepperdine University for San Diego State men’s tennis. The duo’s team of senior Joe Tyler and junior Victor Castro represented the Scarlet and Black well by advancing to the doubles quarterfinals while sophomore Johannes Seeman advanced the furthest in singles play for SDSU by making it to the Round of 32. Tyler and Castro began the competition by ousting University of Santa Barbara redshirt freshman Diego Castillo and
sophomore Josh Williams 8-2 before upsetting the No. 10 seeded Pepperdine team of senior Daniel De Jonge and freshman Linus Carrlson Halldin 8-5. However, Tyler and Castro were bounced from the tournament 8-6 by the thirdseeded USC duo of juniors Stefan Dostanic and Samuel Rubell, the eventual winners of the doubles draw. Despite a first-round bye, Seeman wouldn’t advance further than the Round of 32. Against the aforementioned Rubbell, the no. 11 seeded sophomore was eliminated in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. SDSU will wrap up their fall season on Nov. 5-7 as they make the short drive to the University of San Diego to partake in the San Diego Veterans Tennis Classic.
The Daily Aztec
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Aztec hockey gets the dub against Long Beach State
Photo by Josh Frojelin
The Aztec hockey team celebrated after one of their 17 goals scored over the weekend against Long Beach State. SDSU owned the 49ers, outscoring them 17-5 over the weekend, en route to getting their first two wins of the season.
By Josh Frojelin CONTRIBUTOR
On the heels of a 12-4 victory over the Long Beach State 49ers (2-3 Independent) on Friday the 22nd, the San Diego State Aztecs (2-2, 0-2 Pac-8) welcomed back fans for the first time since the 2019-20 season on Saturday for the team’s homeopener, a 5-0 victory. Unfortunately, the fans were starved of scoring in the first period, as both clubs felt each other out with low-risk chances early. The fans still had something to cheer about with constant scrums and shoving-matches happening after every whistle creating a fun, yet intense, mood throughout the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Senior captain Derian Theberge noted a fast and physical game “Is nothing we’re not used to — we handled it.” In the second period, the Aztecs were finally able to light the lamp. Theberge gave his team the lead, finishing a puck bouncing around the crease to put the Aztecs up early in the period. Freshman Michael Eng joined on the scoresheet later in the frame. Fellow freshman Cole Kosowski had primary assists on both second period goals as the Scarlet and Black began dominating play. Head coach Phillip Bateman knew his team could dominate. “We always preach hard work through all zones... we were just sustaining all the puck pressure in their own zone… we knew that after the first (period) that we had the legs tonight,” Bateman said. That momentum continued into the
third period. Eng, along with freshmen Ian Stentz and Isaiah Tano overwhelmed the 49ers at the end of the period, as SDSU closed the game with two goals in the last few minutes. The Aztecs also maintained a 16-save shutout for senior goalie Nick Ilvento. On the team’s shutout performance, the goalie said “Our defense was huge today. We did a really good job of controlling the puck in our own zone.. Just forcing it (the puck) out when it needed to be out.” After two tough losses to back-to-back Pac-8 champion Oregon Ducks, Bateman’s team was able to respond with two emphatic wins. He said “Coming out of the gate (at Oregon), there are little timing issues. Those two games got us right.” After those opening weekend losses and more practices, “you gain your timing. You gain your hockey legs.” Next, the Aztecs will face the University of California San Diego Tritons, with a more healthy roster. The head coach felt important to mention the team is “still missing three very highly skilled top-end guys on our roster.” Even without those key talents, Bateman touted his current team “is already one of the best teams I’ve coached here at (San Diego) State in six years.” There’s no telling the offensive force Bateman’s club could have when fully healthy. Looking to improve above their .500 record, the Aztecs will need to continue imposing their offensive firepower over another southern California rival. Friday, Oct 29, fans will be welcomed back to Kroc Center for hopefully another highenergy and lively atmosphere.
