The Barometer Online

Men's soccer heads to California

The Beavers will match up against San Diego State and No. 17 UCLA, looking to improve on their 0-1-0 Pac-10 record

Casey Grogan

Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Sports

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Robby Christner, a sophomore forward, strikes the ball in OSU's 1-0 win over Washington last year. Christner and the Beavers travel to southern California this weekend to take on San Diego State and No. 17 UCLA

After a tough 3-1 loss to Northwest rival University of Washington, the Oregon State (5-3-1 overall, 0-1-0 Pacific-10) men's soccer team has its eyes set on the next team on the Pac-10 schedule. The Beaver's head to sunny southern California for a two game swing against San Diego State and UCLA this weekend.

"The Pac-10 is the hardest conference in the country for men's soccer," head coach Dana Taylor said. "It is all about going forward, from weekend to weekend. The guys that we have here are all resilient. We just prepare for this set of teams, and have a fresh game plan."

OSU will step on the pitch against the Aztecs (5-3-1 Overall, 1-1-0 Pac-10) on Friday night, looking for a bit of revenge. A season ago, SDSU beat out the Beavers for an NCAA tournament spot despite finishing lower in the Pac-10 standings.

San Diego State will be hosting the Beavers in its first conference home game of the season. The Aztecs are 4-0-1 this season playing at the SDSU Sports Deck.

SDSU is led by senior goal keeper Tally Hall. Hall recorded 11 saves in the Aztecs' 2-0 upset victory over No. 16 Cal in Berkley; the shutout was Hall's third of the season.

Oregon State is 3-2 all time against San Diego State, and hope to head into Los Angeles on a roll. The Beavers meet the Bruins on Sunday, in their second Top 20 match-up in three games.

"That is why guys want to be here at OSU," Taylor said. "Each team can beat anybody on any given day. It is a fierce game and conference. We do not focus on UCLA, we focus on Oregon State."

The No. 17 Bruins play host to OSU with a record of 10-0 against the Beavers in Los Angeles.

The Beavers will arrive in southern California led by Robbie Findley. Findley is currently tied for second in the Pac-10 in goal scoring with five.

"He has scored five goals, so that is huge," Loreth said."

The Beavers plan on going to California and doing things just like normal.

"We just hope we bring more energy to the game," Taylor said.

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