No. 1 SAN JOSE STATE EARNS MPSF TITLE WITH 3-2 WIN OVER No. 2 NEW MEXICO
San Jose State scored three second half goals and survived a late rally by New Mexico as the Spartans earned the 2003 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title with a 3-2 win, Sunday afternoon at Hornet Soccer Field. The Spartans earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 21.San Jose State, who entered the tournament with the No. 1 seed, raised its record to 11-6-2. The Lobos, who were the No. 2 seed, end their 2003 season at 8-9-3. New Mexico had won the past two MPSF titles.
The Lobos got on the board first in the 13th minute when Jeff Rowland connected on a goal off an assist by Jeff Krause. The score would remain the same as the two teams came off the field at halftime.
San Jose evened the score in the 50th minute after Randy Poggio scored off an assist by Tim McKinney. The Spartans made it a 2-1 contest in the 71st minute when McKinney headed a ball through the left side after a 40-yard free-kick strike by Frank Mata.
San Jose State added another goal in the 75th minute when Johnny Gonzalez scored off an assist by Poggio.
In the 82nd minute, New Mexico’s Lance Watson and San Jose State’s Frank Sanfilippo were tangled up for a play on the ball and a fight ensued between the two squads. After players and coaches were removed from the field, New Mexico’s Danny Bills, Ricky Francis and Watson and San Jose State’s Sanfilippo and Gonzalez were ejected with red cards. The Spartans finished the contest with nine players while the Lobos went on with eight.
Despite one less player on the field, New Mexico cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 88th minute after Patrick Grange found the back of the net on an assist by Matt Wooton.
The Spartans held off the Lobos rally for the final two minutes to earn their first MPSF title since 1990.
New Mexico goalkeeper Andrew Weber led all players with four saves.
At the conclusion of the contest, the 2003 MPSF All-Tournament selections were announced. San Jose State’s Frank Mata was named MVP of the tournament after collecting one goal and two assists in two games. The rest of the team is as follows:
Sam Sneed, Sr., MF, Sacramento State
Alex Hernandez, Sr., MF, UNLV
Colin Hanke, Sr., GK, San Diego State
Raul Baptiste, So., Fwd, San Diego State
Marcus Sagastume, Jr., MF, Air Force
Daniel Wasson, So., MF, Air Force
Patrick Grange, Jr., MF, New Mexico
Brandon Moss, So., Def., New Mexico
Jeff Krause, Jr., Def., New Mexico
Tyler Tratten, Fr., GK, San Jose State
Tournament MVP: Frank Mata, So., MF, San Jose State
