Ethan Ndachi (@EthanNdachi) – Content editor | Freshman midfielder Fernando Duarte competes aerially vs. SDSU (Photo by Denim Bragg – The Spear)
San Jose State’s men’s soccer (8-3-4, WAC 1-2-2) continued its streak of hard luck Thursday night where they drew to San Diego State University (6-7-2, WAC 2-1-2) 2-2.
The Spartans are still yet to defeat the Aztecs at the Spartan Soccer Complex, last time being in 2004.
SJSU were up 2-1 going into the 89th minute, before an SDSU player was brought down in the box. The referee would then award a penalty kick for the Aztecs.
SDSU senior forward Terence Okoeguale equalized from the spot, knotting the game at 2-2 and putting a dark cloud over what could have been an impressive win for SJSU.
In the 75th minute, WAC Defensive Player of the Week winner senior Javier Lopez, was sent off for an alleged boot to the face during a defensive play just outside the box. Lopez would be a big miss for the Spartans, having been a rock at the back all season.
Having just conceded a goal a minute prior to equalize the game 1-1 after a mishap from senior goalkeeper Ronin Axelson, the Spartans gave themselves an uphill battle to fight going into the final minutes.
“You don’t want to put yourself in those situations,” associate head coach Jesus Sanchez said. “You don’t want to be a man down on important aspects like set pieces or crosses.”
Senior midfielder Angel Iniguez would almost rescue the Spartans’ night following the red card. After the keeper was caught outside his box, redshirt junior defender Dane Pendleton took a shot from distance which was blocked by a defender in goal. Iniguez would follow up the shot with a sharp header to bring the Spartan Soccer Complex in uproar.
“Being a man down is hard but we got one after that,” Iniguez said. “I thought we could have closed the game out.”
This was a return to the scoresheet for Iniguez, as he opened the scoring for the Spartans in the 13th minute, with a well placed finish outside the 18-yard box.
Iniguez’s tally for the season rises to six goals and six assists, being a vital player in these last few conference fixtures.
Further down in the midfield was a relatively new face to start alongside Iniguez and junior Angel Fernandez, freshman Fernando Duarte was trusted to fill the hole left by junior Gilberto Rivera’s suspension.
“I think it’s a big role,” Duarte said. “With Gil being one of the top players on the team, I tried my best.”
The freshman played 70 minutes and contributed well to the Spartans, playing tidy passes, attempting long balls and covering ground around the Complex.
“Fernando played really well, first big minutes in a crucial role for us,” Sanchez said. “He has a bright future ahead of him, he’s a very good kid.”
Despite their fouling debacles, SJSU were holding strong defensively, limiting SDSU to only two shots on goal from a total four. Axelson continued with second start in goal, with redshirt senior Edgar Guerra still kept in reserve since his booking at Utah Valley.
“We have two really good goalkeepers, when that competition and battle is there for places, players need to understand we can give each other a chance,” Sanchez said.
The Spartans were also active on their offense, with five shots on goal from 16 total. Sophomore midfielder Cameron Cook matched Iniguez’s four shots in the match, and was a threat on the left flank.
There were many big chances for SJSU to take the lead and/or equalize in the match, a statement that seems to have been on repeat for these last few results.
“The performance was good but it wasn’t good enough,” Sanchez said. “We didn’t accelerate the running, we didn’t accelerate the concentration and we just kept leaving San Diego state involved and giving them a chance and they kept it.”
The Spartans are now winless in their last four games. Their matchups against University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Air Force Academy are now must-wins in order to finish in the top six and join the rest of the conference in Riverside next month.
“We need to be clinical…and we need higher levels of concentration,” Sanchez said. “There’s no other acceptable result than three points.”
The penultimate game at the Spartan Soccer Complex played host to some special guests, the SJSU women’s soccer team was cheering their male counterparts on as they played immediately after, and former SJSU basketball guard Latrell Davis was in attendance as well.
SJSU will look to pick up a must-needed win against UNLV this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nev.
