There are just two games to go in the 2009 regular season for the San Francisco State men’s soccer team.

Spencer Schwandt, a starting midfielder who is tied for the lead in the NCAA-Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association in assists with eight, wants to make the most out of home games Friday against Chico State and Sunday vs. Cal State Stanislaus.

But in no way does Schwandt’s senior season mark the end of his soccer career.

“I don’t really see it coming to an end, just because I’ll be done with college,” said Schwandt, who played on Vintage High School’s 2004 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship team. “These games are going to help me grow and help me with getting better.”

Whether it’s possibly playing professionally or joining an adult league team or coaching, Schwandt plans to stick with soccer.

“Soccer’s always going to be there for me,” he said.

Schwandt is a four-year player for San Francisco (6-9-3 overall, 3-8-3 CCAA), which also has Ali Elkadi, a junior midfielder who played at Vintage and transferred from Napa Valley College.

Schwandt has started all 18 games and has two goals with 12 points and 28 shots, 15 of which have been shots on goal.

“You have to prove it every day on the training field that you are one of the top players, because there are so many good players,” said Schwandt, who is from Napa. “It’s just consistency. Are you able to play your best every single game? If you don’t play your best, you’re going to be in jeopardy of losing your spot.

“It’s the small things that really matter. It’s about being consistent and being dialed in at all times.”

Edgar Villagrana scored the game-winning goal 7:22 into the first overtime off a pass from Schwandt, giving the Gators a 2-1 victory over visiting Cal State Monterey Bay last weekend at Cox Stadium.

Sasha Chalak connected on the game’s first goal as he headed in a corner kick from Schwandt in front of the goal to give the Gators a 1-0 lead at the 27:10 mark.

Schwandt was more of a scorer last year, seeing action in all 20 matches and tying for the team lead with five goals, two of which came on penalty kicks. He was third on the team with 10 points.

This year, Schwandt’s job as a wide midfielder is getting the ball to the forwards, delivering crossing passes and putting San Francisco in a position to score.

“Every game, it’s within yourself to make sure that you’re ready to play,” he said in a telephone interview. “My athleticism, my physicality, my speed of play and strength has greatly improved in the college game.

“When you step on the field for college, you always have to have the mind-set that every single game you really have something to prove — to your team as well as the other team. People are good and strong and athletic — they’re not going to let you roll over them.”

In a game last week, Schwandt was credited with an assist in the Gators’ 3-2 loss to Monterey Bay in Seaside. The Otters scored the game-winner with less than three minutes left in regulation.

“I would say that my ball-handling abilities are good,” said Schwandt, a right-footed kicker. “I understand what to do and what not to do in certain situations. It makes me reduce mistakes. I stay more composed, so the younger guys can kind of feed off of my energy. You practice every single day and you’ve got to perform on the field.

“Just because I’m not scoring as many goals, it’s perfectly OK, as long as I’m getting assists.”

In 2007, Schwandt was one of five Gators to play in all 20 matches, earning a start in six of those contests. He had two assists in the final two games of the season and took 18 shots on the year with seven on goal. As a freshman in 2006, Schwandt saw action in all but one game and had one assist.

“I’m really lucky to be able to play soccer and get an education while living in such a nice area,” he said.

A business information systems major, Schwandt coached in the Napa Valley Soccer Club and played for the Bay Area Ambassadors, a National Premier Soccer League team, this past summer.

He was All-Napa County and All-Monticello Empire League for Vintage. The Crushers went 20-3-2 overall, winning MEL and section titles in 2004. They had playoff wins over Franklin-Elk Grove, Kennedy-Sacramento, Jesuit-Carmichael and Edison-Stockton.