SAN DIEGO \u2013 The San Diego State men\u2019s soccer team (2-1-3) defeated Sacramento State (1-5-0) 2-0 on the SDSU Sports Deck Friday night. The Aztecs scored a pair of goals in the first half and secured their first shutout of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we played our best 45 minutes of the season in the first half,\u201d Head coach Ryan Hopkins<\/a> said after the match. “We\u2019ll need more of that at [No. 9] USD on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Aztecs outshot the Hornets 16-14 and held a 9-4 advantage in the first half while maintaining a 62 percent possession rate.<\/p>\n SDSU scored their first goal in the 39th minute on a Nik Orth<\/a> penalty kick after Gio Aguirre<\/a> was taken down inside the box. It was Orth\u2019s Pac-12 leading fifth goal of the season and third on a PK.<\/p>\n The Aztecs scored again with one second left in the first half. Nik Orth<\/a> sent a cross into the box from the left corner towards Jaxson Hutcheon<\/a> that was misplayed by two Hornet defenders resulting in an own goal.<\/p>\n Sacramento State outshot SDSU in the second half but were unable to create any dangerous opportunities.<\/p>\n SDSU goalkeeper Nic Diana<\/a> earned his first shutout as an Aztec and collected four saves.<\/p>\n