San Diego Reader

The San Diego State men’s soccer team surpassed their expectations after beating the high ranked UCSB Gauchos in an exciting and intense 4-2 win at San Diego State University this past Friday. The San Diego State crowd was apprehensive as the Aztecs and Gauchos warmed up before the game, but after the rivalry began it was all excitement as the Aztecs brought the heat. It was evident that the Aztecs brought their best game to the field by looking at the hundreds of roaring Aztec fans cheering in the bleachers after SDSU scored the first goal of the game. “I knew we were off to a good start after that first goal,” said 20 year old San Diego State student Jessica Dodson. “The Gauchos weren’t expecting us to come out with so much power and drive.” 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. The first goal of the game was scored after San Diego State junior Khadim Diouf, beat a UCSB defender and slid a pass to a breaking third year player Raymundo Reza, who tapped it into the right-corner of the goal from about 10 yards. Reza, earned his first Man of the Match honor of the season after scoring two goals and assisting on another which helped to lead the Aztecs to their 4-2 victory.
“This is huge,” Reza said. “Everything has been going downhill for us this season. Now it's time to sit on this wave of emotion and ride it. We need to keep playing with the intensity that has gotten us these victories.” Although, the SDSU men’s soccer team struggled earlier on in the season, they have seemed to hit their stride now after their victory over UCSB, which stretched the Aztecs’ unbeaten streak to four games. They are eager to push forward to continue to be victorious during this 2009 season. “We have slowly shown that we have what it takes to be winners,” said SDSU Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel. “The boys know the feeling of victory now, and they aren’t going to have it any other way.”