SAN DIEGO – San Diego State dropped its final regular-season home game Saturday night to Stanford, 4-0. The loss dips the Aztecs’ record to 7-8-3 (1-6-2 Pac-12), while the Cardinal up its season mark to 8-8-1 (4-4-1 Pac-12).

 

Stanford got on the board first with a goal in the 13^th minute. The Cardinal took a corner kick from the far side that sailed past the box. After a misplayed ball by Stanford, Adam Jahn crossed it into the box and Zach Batteer headed the ball in from three yards out in front of the net.

 

The Aztecs could not get going offensively in the first half as evidenced by their two shots on goal at halftime. Before SDSU could find its rhythm in the second half, Stanford scored 3 minutes, 37 seconds after the teams returned to the pitch. Dersu Abolfathi connected on a 20-yard shot that sailed over Aztec goalkeeper Tim Peitsch.

 

Down 2-0, San Diego State began to click and created a handful of opportunities for itself, but could not finish down stretch. Off a corner kick from Jose Altamirano, Casey Meuser had a great opportunity to get the Aztecs to within one with a header, but his attempt was wide left. Later, Jordan Ongaro, who entered the game at the start of the second half had an open look at the net, but Stanford goalkeeper Drew Hutchins made a wonderful save to preserve the Cardinal lead. Then less than a minute later after an Altamirano corner kick, Meuser headed ball while in the box, but his shot sailed just above the crossbar in 77^th minute.

 

With time ticking off the clock, Stanford added a pair of goals late. Jahn scored off a header off an Aaron Kovar throw-in in the 85^th minute and Eric Verso provided the final margin with a goal from 20 yards out. Jahn was credited with the assist on Verso’s goal.

 

Prior to the game, the Aztecs honored their two seniors in co-captain Ata Ozbay and Jose Altamirano. Ozbay is in his second season on Montezuma Mesa and played his 34^th career game and started for the 29^th time. Altamirano, a San Diego native, meanwhile, played in his 71^st career game and earned his 57^th starting assignment.

 

At the final horn, Stanford held a 16-14 advantage in shots and a 10-4 lead in shots on goal. San Diego State attempted eight corner kicks to the Cardinal’s three.

 

SDSU closes out its regular season on Friday when it plays at nationally ranked UCLA. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. PT and the contest will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

 

MEN OF THE MATCH: The Men of the Match are the San Diego State seniors, Jose Altamirano and Ata Ozbay. The duo started the game and played the entire 90 minutes. Altamirano attempted one shot and it came on goal. Both were vital in the Aztecs’ attempted comeback in the second half.