SAN DIEGO – Tristan Viviani scored in the 89th minute to lift the San Diego State men’s soccer team (6-7-1, 2-1-1) to a 2-1 win over Utah Tech (3-6-4, 2-1-1) Saturday Night. With the win, the Aztecs move into a four-way tie for first place in the WAC.
The Aztecs were the first to score, finding the back of the net in the 65th minute, but the Trailblazers scored the equalizer just seven minutes later. Viviani’s last-minute goal helped the Aztecs secure three critical points.
“It was another really close conference game,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins explained after the match. “We gutted it out. It wasn’t our best performance, but we played much better as a team in the second half, and we never quit.”
The Aztecs were outshot 16-12 in the match and 10-3 in the second half. They only had three shots on goal but made two of them count.
Their first goal came on a Lleyton Imparato free kick just inside midfield in the 65th minute. His kick found Christian Engmann’s head who set up Baptiste Boit’s goal. It was Imparato’s fourth assist, the most on the team, and all of them came on set pieces.
The Trailblazers’ Tanner Dutra tied it at 1-1 in the 72nd minute when he finished a Mitch Williams’ assist.
Viviani’s game-winner followed a long throw in from Christian Engmann that went off Juan Zepeda’s head.
“It felt great,” Viviani explained. “I haven’t had a lot of those moments in my career, because I’ve been more of a defensive player, but it feels nice.”
SDSU goalkeeper Eddy Vargas collected four saves and earned the win.
STAT OF THE GAME
SDSU had just three shots on goal, but scored twice.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs are now 2-1-1 in WAC play. Their seven points are equal with California Baptist, Grand Canyon and Utah Tech for first place.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play at San Jose State Thursday at 4:30 p.m.