SAN DIEGO ? If Saturday men's soccer match between CSUB and San Diego State had taken place on Sesame Street, it would have been brought to fans by the number nine and color yellow.
SDSU scored goals in each half to earn a 2?0 victory, but the overriding themes were Bakersfield's nine empty corner kicks and remarkable nine yellow cards distributed in the match.
Omar Persad provided the Aztecs with the only goal they would need in the fifth minute, finishing a Steve Beitashour cross from close range. From that point, it would be nearly 40 minutes before either team took another shot as the action was dominated by stoppages for yellow cards and CSUB corner kicks.
And corners proved to be the difference in the match for the 'Runners. Bakersfield took nine corners Saturday ? to just three for SDSU ? but the most remarkable aspect of the statistic was that they didn't manage a single shot off of them. In fact, officially the 'Runners managed just one shot for the match ? a 76th minute effort that Towa Manda sent wide.
“For the most part, we dominated midfield and we dominated possession, but with Ryan Gay out, we lack a proven goal scorer,” said CSUB Head Coach Simon Tobin. “That's been the difference in a couple of our results this season. But for the most part, we're playing quality soccer.”
CSUB's best chance to score came in the 62nd minute when an Aztec defender and senior defender T.J. Brown went for a ball in the air in the Aztec box. Officially, the defender header the ball goalward, where SDSU keeper Brad Byrns made a brilliant save ?that did not technically count as a save ? to maintain the 1?0 Aztec lead.
SDSU then put the match away on the ensuing counter attack when Khadim Diouf beat goalkeeper Steve Trojanowski and another 'Runner defender to a loose ball headed home his first of the season from the middle of the penalty area.
The loss proved costly in another way for CSUB as freshman midfielder Oscar Coppieters picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, which will necessitate him missing the next match by NCAA rule. Manda and Tyler Wrzenski also saw yellow cards Saturday.
Six different Aztec players received yellows in the match.
CSUB returns home for just the second time in 2007 Tuesday night to host The Master's College. Kickoff on the Main Soccer Field will be at 7 p.m.
