University of Washington
San Diego State
No. 1 Washington Downs San Diego State, 3-2
October 20, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Final Stats
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – No. 1 Washington bounced back with an important 3-2 win over San Diego State to move to 10-2-1 and 3-1-1 in the Pac-12. The three points puts the Dawgs back in first place in the Pac-12 with 10 points on the season.
“Give San Diego State credit for continuing to fight back because I thought the first 15 minutes was our best soccer of the season,” said head coach Jamie Clark. “We missed a penalty to go up 3-0, which let them back in the door.”
The Dawgs got an offensive outburst from some unlikely players with two goals from defenders and one from holding midfielder Ian Lange. Washington now holds the conference lead through the first round of the double round robin with UCLA and Stanford still having a game later this weekend to try to tie the Huskies at the top of the conference.
Washington jumped on San Diego State with two early goals. Lange made it 1-0 in the sixth minute, scoring on a header off a corner kick. Justin Schmidt sent in a bending ball that found Lange for his first goal of the season.
Minutes later, Justin Fiddes scored his first collegiate goal when he controlled a cross, cut back inside and shot from about 15 yards out. The freshman defender who seems to have won the job at right back blasted it into the top left corner.
“It was a fantastic goal,” said Clark. “It was great for Justin to have a moment like that coming home and playing in front of his friends and family.”
The Dawgs missed the chance to go up 3-0 after earning a penalty, but Darwin Jones had his shot was saved.
The two-goal lead would not last long after that as the Aztecs pulled within one in the 20th minute. Rene Reyes shot from about 15 yards just out of the reach of Husky goalkeeper Spencer Richey to tighten up a game that Dawgs had been dominating.
“It was a world-class goal,” said Clark. “Those are the goals that you just pat your opponent on the back.”
The game would go to the half with a 2-1 score with Washington outshooting the Aztecs, 10-5.
After the break, San Diego State made it an exciting game, attacking more and testing the Huskies slim margin. The Dawgs would stretch the lead in the 62nd minute, however, as Schmidt once again got involved in the offense. The redshirt sophomore defender hit a bending cross on target that was trouble all the way for the Aztec defense. The Husky attackers tried to redirect, but instead it sailed into the net, confusing the San Diego State backline. It was a perfectly struck free kick that had the option of being redirected or going straight into the goal.
The goal was the third of the season for Schmidt, who also now has four assists as he continues to cause problems, particularly on set pieces.
San Diego State did not go quietly and made for an interesting final five minutes with their second goal in the 85th minute. Travis Nicklaw scored another great goal for the Aztecs to cut the Husky lead back to one.
Washington would make that score stand, however, picking up a big road win in conference.
The Dawgs will now return home after three straight on the road. Washington will welcome familiar opponents as they take on No. 14 UCLA and San Diego State for the second-straight week. The Huskies face UCLA on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., followed by San Diego State on Sunday at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks.
“Every game in this conference is so tight,” said Clark. “It's often just splitting hairs. We are going to need to go home and take points off UCLA and then I think we will be in good shape.”
