San Diego State - Four Star Class Ranking -  The Aztecs faired very well on the recruiting trail signing a six member class with impressive resumes that reflect success on the pitch in a variety of competitive venues.  Lev Kirshner’s recruiting strategy appears to include keeping the top local talent  home while selling the program to a few high quality out-of-state prospects.  He did an excellent job of accomplishing that in 2009.  The marquee player of the class is three-time NSCAA Youth All-American midfielder Jose Altamirano who hails from San Diego County and has been a member of the U-17, U-18, and U-20 U.S. National Teams.  Kirshner stated, “We will lose some very significant players in 2009 due to graduation, so it was important for us to find a number of game breaker type players.  On paper, we were very successful.”  The Aztecs will enter the 2009 season with eight starters back from the 2008 team that was 6-9-3 overall record with a 3-4-3 mark in Pac-10 competition.  Kirshner must replace defenders Danny Ortiz (0g, 1a) and Myles Davis along with defensive midfielder Dennis Sanchez (1g, 1a) but enough  talent looks to be on board supplemented by a very good crop of recruits to generate some very cautious optimism at San Diego State heading into the 2009 campaign.  Underline the words very cautious in the prior sentence because on paper the Aztecs looked to be very good heading into the 2008 campaign but most would agree that they significantly underachieved.  In fact, San Diego State looked to be a team that was gaining momentum after joining the Pac-10 Conference in 2005 and earning at-large berths to the  NCAA Tourney in both 2005 and 2006 but with only eight wins in 2007 and six in 2008, no additional NCAA Tourney invites have been forthcoming.  All things considered Kirshner’s team looks to have the desired mix of talent, speed, size, and experience, to have a good shot at going dancing again in 2009 if they play to their potential but that brings us back to the cautious optimism statement and the fact that underachieving can be habit forming.   Heading into the 2009 campaign, Kirshner has a lot of players who have the ability to play multiple positions which means he has a lot of flexibility line-up wise.  Junior Khadim Diouf (3g, 0a) and seniors Matt McManus (5g, 1a) and Jamel Wallace are among the likely starters up-top.  Diouf is a physical player with the potential to be the Aztecs go-to guy up-top.  McManus, who has been hampered somewhat due to injury, is effective in the air and is equally comfortable up-top or in the back.  Wallace has the athletic ability to play anywhere on the field.  In the past he has been used up-top and then moved to the back to strengthen the defense.  The Aztec midfield looks to be very productive in 2009.  Junior Raymundo Reza (8g, 4a) who led San Diego State in scoring last year and senior Evan Toft (3g, 6a) who may also be utilized as a forward add offensive punch to the Aztec midfield.  RS Sophomore Justin Davies, who started fourteen contests last year, returns to give the Aztecs a very capable defensive midfielder.  Senior Daniel Ortega (0g, 1a), junior Michael Rocha (0g, 3a), sophomore Joe Corona, and redshirt sophomore  Pedro Adan round out what should be a very deep and versatile group of midfielders.  The Aztec defense was a bit too porous at times last year.  For example, UCLA found the back of the net a total of nine times in two matches against San Diego State.  Improvement is needed in that area since the Aztecs can’t consistently count on their offense producing enough to make up for defensive lapses particularly when facing top level competition.  Senior Nick Cardenas, who was named a 2009 Preseason Third-Team All-American by College Soccer News, returns in the back along with sophomore Daniel Steres (3g, 2a) and senior Steve Beitashour who has been hampered by injuries but if healthy can be a difference maker.  Cardenas and Steres should provide stability to the backline.  The biggest question mark facing Kirshner heading into the 2009 campaign looks to be the play between the pipes.  The Aztecs utilized no less than four different players in goal last year with departed senior Jorge Rosales appearing in ten contests.  Under what might best be described as a “revolving door”  type system in goal,  four different goalkeepers saw action in at least three games apiece.  Returning netminders include RS junior Brad Byrns, and RS Sophomore R.J. Smith.  If Byrns can remain healthy, he looks to be in the drivers to be the starting keeper.  Look for the play between the pipes to have a huge impact on the level of success San Diego State enjoys in 2009.  As a team the Aztecs have not come close to hitting their ceiling yet.  In the event they do, you will likely see it reflected in the rankings.  If not, expect the status quo to prevail with another six or seven win season.

 

Jose Altamirano - San Diego, California  - Midfielder - Southwest High School - Three-time NSCAA Youth All-American - Member of U.S. National Teams - CIF Player of the Year. 

 

Blake Hylen - San Diego, California  - Goalkeeper - Torrey Pines High School - All-Palomar League selection - Played for Del Mar Sharks.  All-CIF selection.

 

Chadd Johnson - Orange County, California - Defender - Brea Olinda High School -  Member ESP program - All CIF selection - All-Orange County - Played for LA Galaxy US Academy team.

 

Jordan Phillips - Woodlands, Texas - Defender - Woodlands High School -  Multi-year starter for South Texas ODP team - TASCO 5A All-Region selection - Played for Texas Rush. 

 

Morgan Sacco - Denver, Colorado - Midfielder - Greeley Central High School - NSCAA High School All-American - 2007 Colorado Player of the Year.  Waited a year before enrolling.

 

Devon Sandoval - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Forward - Eldorado High School - Region IV ODP and New Mexico State team starter - Named District Player of the Year - All-State selection.