Oct. 27, 2016
USAFA, Colo. - The San José State University men's soccer team beat Air Force, 1-0, in a defensive battle for their first road win of the season at Cadet Soccer Field on Thursday evening.
The Spartans (3-12-2, 2-5-1) shut down the Falcons' (11-6-0, 5-3-0) offense that entered the match scoring the third most goals in the nation with 37 and was fifth in the nation in scoring offense per match (2.31).
"Our defensive effort was the key to victory. We defended as a team today, from the forwards down to the defensemen. It was one of our best defensive efforts this year," said Spartans head coach Simon Tobin.
Tobin's words were backed up by the stat sheet in which the Falcons did not have a single shot on goal for the match and did not even get a shot off in the second half helping SJSU goalkeeper Nedin Tucakovic record his second clean sheet of the year.
The lone goal of the match came in the 72nd minute when Spartans sophomore Andrew Mendoza fired a shot from 10 yards out off a rebound that found the back of the net.
Leading up to the goal, Jonathan Colunga and Suliman Khorami played give-and-go off a short corner kick on the left side, allowing Khorami to get a shot off cleanly just inside the box. An Air Force defender blocked the shot before Mendoza one-timed it to beat the Falcons goalkeeper John Wendt.
"Colunga and Khorami worked a nice one before Mendoza hit it sweetly. It was a good goal," said Tobin.
It was Mendoza's third goal of the season, tying him atop the team lead with Jeremy Romero and his second game-winner this season.
With tonight's win, the Spartans earned a valuable three points in the WAC standings. The team currently sits in seventh place among tournament eligible teams (Grand Canyon and Incarnate Word are not eligible this season as they transition from Division II to Division I), two points behind the sixth and last tournament spot.
SJSU plays next at UMKC on Saturday, October 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
2016 San Jose State Men's Soccer
San Jose State vs Air Force (Oct 27, 2016 at USAFA, Colo.)
San Jose State (3-12-2, 2-5-1 WAC) vs. Air Force (11-6-0, 5-3-0 WAC)
Date: Oct 27, 2016 Attendance: 178
Weather: Clear and breezy, 60 degrees
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
San Jose State...... 0 1 - 1
Air Force........... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
- 71:13 SJSU Mendoza, Andrew (3) (Khorami, Suliman) - Off the deflection returned by #13 into the left side from 10 yds out
Shots: San Jose State 8, Air Force 9
Saves: San Jose State 0 (), Air Force 1 (Wendt, John 1)