Air Force Academy
San Diego State
Falcons Falter at San Diego State, 3-0
10/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2004
San Diego State's men's soccer team used a dominating two-goal first half performance by junior Matt Couch and held off a late flurry from Air Force to defeat the Falcons 3-0 on Friday. The Aztecs improve to 2-7-1 overall this season and 2-1 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play. Air Force falls to 6-3-1 overall and 2-1 in the MPSF.
The Aztecs first goal came on long pass from junior Colter McArdle, who had checked in just 15 seconds earlier, that Couch scored (12:13) on a diving header from 12 yards out. McArdle and senior Kenny Fechner were credited assists on the play. Couch added to his total on the night just three minutes later when he found a ball off a long kick from SDSU's sophomore keeper Tally Hall, and put it in the lower left half of the goal (15:51). Hall was credited with the assist.
The Aztecs would all but put it away on an own goal by Air Force, when a Falcon defender attempted to head a ball back to his keeper, but put it into the net (35:41) instead. Falcon goalie Mike Maynard was replaced four minutes later by sophomore Paul Elsbernd, who made four saves. Maynard made just one save for Air Force.
SDSU held off great pressure from Air Force, which took 13 shots in the second half, to maintain the shutout and earn Hall his second win and second shutout of the season. For the game, the Aztecs trailed the Falcons in shots (20-16) and shots on goal (10-8), but held a slim lead in corner kick attempts (5-3).
Air Force stays on the road for a game at UNLV on Sunday, Oct. 10, beginning at noon.
