Princeton University
San Diego State
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Players Mentioned
Men's Soccer Drops a Heartbreaker to SDSU, 1-0
September 27, 2009 | Men's Soccer
Boxscore
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (9/27/09) - A goal in the 55th minute gave the San Diego State men's soccer team a 1-0 win over Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the San Diego State University Sports Deck during the Nike Aztec Soccer Classic.
Ten minutes into the second half, Steve Beitashour's initial shot was saved on the ground by Princeton goalkeeper Sean Lynch but the ball bounced back out onto the field and Evan Toft got to it first and shot it into the back of the net while a Princeton defender tried to make the team save.
SDSU's Devon Sandoval nearly made it 2-0 in the 65th minute when he was wide open in the front of the net after Lynch came out to cut the angle on another player who had the ball on the right side. The player pushed the ball out in front of the net but Linnville kicked it back out into the midfield before Sandoval could turn to make the shot. Lynch returned the favor minutes later when he grabbed a Sandoval shot on goal.
Junior Josh Walburn blasted a shot at the net in the 77th minute but keeper Brad Byrns made a diving stop to preserve his team's lead. Senior Ben Harms followed up with a shot that went just high of the cross bar two minutes later.
With four minutes to play freshman striker Matt Sanner rocketed a shot from about 22 yards out, but the shot just cleared the cross bar for a goal kick.
Sanner gave Princeton its first chance in the first half, in the 24th minute, when he headed a Mark Linnville throw in, but Byrns was in the right place to make the quick save with his body at the far post.
Prior to that neither had any quality scoring chances, with the teams exchanging possession in the midfield. The Princeton defense did a great job of getting to any long balls and stripping a lot of balls away from the Aztecs in the attacking third. Their efforts were reflected in the half time box, with zero shots on goal recorded for the Aztecs.
Six minutes later, junior Max Hare sent a terrific cross into the box for Walburn, but his shot was scooped up by Byrns.
Linnville had a great opportunity following his own throw in in the waning minutes of the first half. The ball made it back to him on the far touchline and he rocketed a shot through traffic but Byrnes dropped down on the ball for a goal kick.
Shots in the game were even at 11 apiece and both teams have five corner kicks.
Lynch finished the game with one save, while Byrns made four.
Princeton is now 4-3 on the season, while SDSU improves 3-2-2.
Princeton will open Ivy League play on Saturday, Oct. 3 against No. 15 Dartmouth, with a kick off scheduled for 6:30 p.m., in Hanover, N.H.