The so called "preseason" is coming to an end.

One more match and it's time for conference play.

And the San Diego State men's soccer team wants to enter their conference schedule with momentum.

The Aztecs have won four in a row since losing to crosstown rival USD on Sept. 4. Coach Lev Kirshner's team faces Central Arkansas at the SDSU Sports Deck on Saturday in what can be an important affair for the Aztecs (5-1-1).

San Diego State, which is receiving votes in two national ranking polls, beat Manhattan, No. 21 Penn, Oral Roberts and Houston during the four-match win streak while outscoring its opponents 12-2.

It is a stat the Aztecs are hoping to keep improving as competition intensifies within the conference.

And if SDSU is to keep up the scoring, it might rely on one of its standout players, Jose Altamirano. The South Bay product (Southwest High School) is coming off a nice weekend at the San Diego Central tournament.

He scored three goals, including one in a 2-0 win against Manhattan, and two more against Penn in the Aztecs 2-0 victory.

Altamirano was named the tournament's most offensive player and for helping the Aztecs clinch the tournament title.

Altamirano has played for the U.S. national team in three age groups and most recently with the Under-20 squad in March of 2009. He has three goals this year after recording two over his first two seasons. Altamirano's eight points (three goals, two assists) is tied with Miles Byass (three goals, four assists) for the team lead.

The junior midfielder was also named to Soccer America's team of the week for the week of Sept. 14.

The Aztecs are hoping they can be the team of the week in the PAC-12 after playing Central Arkansas. Stanford (Sept. 30) and Cal (Oct. 2) are the first two conference matches for the Aztecs. Both are at home.

Lady Aztecs

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The San Diego State women's soccer team doesn't play this weekend but the coming days will be nothing like a vacation.

The Aztecs open conference play next week with a Sept. 30 home match against New Mexico. Coach Mark Friesen is trying to get his players to forget about Wednesday's 1-0 loss to UC Santa Barbara at the SDSU Sports Deck.

Erica Shelton converted a penalty kick in the 55th minute for the difference in the game. The Aztecs' Sophie Metz took down Katy Roby in the left side of the box, prompting a whistle. A foul was called and Metz was shown a yellow card as the Gauchos were awarded the penalty kick.

It was a moment the Aztecs (5-4-2) are looking to forget after dominating for most of the first half of that match. The Gauchos (5-5-1) attempted one shot on goal during the first 45 minutes of play.

But that's history. The Aztecs have a little more than a week to recover mentally and physically after playing against UCSB without two starters.

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com