SDSU MEN'S SOCCER RECEIVES NCAA TOURNAMENT BID

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Aztecs to play UNLV at home on Thursday

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 14, 2016 (San Diego) - For the ninth time in program history, the San Diego State men’s soccer team is heading to the NCAA Tournament. The No. 16/15 Aztecs will play host to UNLV in their first-round match on Thursday, November 17 at SDSU Sports Deck. First tap is set for 7 p.m. PT.

The winner of the Aztecs-Rebels clash will square off against the University of Denver on Sunday, Nov. 20, in Denver, Colorado.

SDSU fashioned one of its most successful campaigns ever in 2016, posting a 9-4-5 overall record while finishing third in the Pac-12 race with a 4-3-3 mark.

The seeds for a special season were sown early in the year when the Aztecs pulled off a mammoth 1-0 victory over No. 1 Akron at home on Sept. 2 in front of an overflow crowd of 2,041 energetic fans, before winning their own Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament the following weekend.

In addition, SDSU posted its first-ever sweep of Pac-12 rival Washington and claimed two victories over another conference foe California for the first time since 2009. The Aztecs also snapped Stanford’s five-match winning streak to open league play with a 1-1 draw against the eventual Pac-12 champion Cardinal at home.

The Aztecs have appeared in the Soccer America rankings for 10 consecutive weeks, climbing to as high as No. 7 on Sept. 12. Additionally, SDSU has landed in nine of the last 10 NSCAA coaches polls, earning a high ranking of 11th on September 13.

Defense has been a trademark all season for the Aztecs, who enter the week ranked third nationally in shutout percentage (0.61) and 10th in goals against average (0.66). 

Individually, goalkeeper Adam Allmaras is fifth in the nation with an .855 save percentage and is ranked 18th with a .622 goals against average, both tops in the conference. The La Costa Canyon High product also leads the Pac-12 with 11 shutouts. In addition, forward Travis Nicklaw is tied for fifth in the league with a team-high five goals.

With its success, SDSU has collected several individual awards at the conference and national level this year. Adam Allmaras (September 6/October 25), Jeroen Meefout (September 13) and Travis Nicklaw (September 27/October 4) have already earned Pac-12 Player of Week honors. The Aztecs’ five weekly Pac-12 nods are the most in the same season since SDSU joined the conference in 2005. Not to be outdone, Nicklaw (September 6) and Allmaras (October 4) were named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week, while Meefout (September 13) and defender Matt Callahan (October 3) received the same recognition from College Soccer News.

The Aztecs have made eight previous appearances in the NCAA Tournament, recording a 9-6-1 record in postseason contests. SDSU's best showing occurred in 1987 when it finished runner-up to Clemson in the national title match.

SDSU is 19-11-5 against UNLV in 35 all-time encounters. The two sides last met in 2015 when the Rebels registered a hard-fought 3-2 decision on the Sports Deck. UNLV (10-11-1, 5-4-1 WAC) won the Western Athletic Conference tournament with a 2-1 triumph over Air Force on Sunday to claim that league’s automatic berth in the NCAAs.

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