Nov. 4, 1999
SAN DIEGO - One step away.
That's what the San Diego State women's soccer team (15-5 overall) is to winning the first-ever Mountain West Conference Tournament after handing Air Force (11-10 overall) a 3-1 loss on Thursday at the ARCO Olympic Training Center.
SDSU got on the board first when junior midfielder Elicia Petre scored her sixth goal of the season, putting a cross from senior midfielder Megan Mattes that was flicked on by senior forward and First Team All-Mountain West Conference selection Lori LaCoursiere in the back of the net at the 22:39 mark. LaCoursiere's assist was her 12th of the season, a mark which gives her sole possession of the single-season school record for assists. Prior to Thursday's game, LaCoursiere shared the top spot with Catherine McGuire.
The Aztecs' lead was short-lived, however, as the Falcons would tie the score just six minutes later when forward Becky Wyffels punched in a cross from midfielder Beth Boyer at 28:51.
Following Wyffels' goal, Air Force went on to control the remainder of the first half, playing with a high level of emotion.
Coming out of halftime, SDSU began to turn things around. Led by the solid defensive play of junior Alicia Orsini and freshman Hannah Garl, the Aztecs dominated the second half, but could not find a way to score.
Enter Petre.
The San Juan Capistrano, Calif. native scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal when she placed a cross from LaCoursiere off the inside of the left post and into the net at the 76:15 mark.
Air Force had a chance to tie the game just five minutes later, but a controversial offside call negated a goal from forward Stephanie Rader.
Following the call, the Aztecs immediately regained their composure and put the nail in the coffin when sophomore forward Kate Qually beat a Falcon defender and placed a beautiful shot past Air Force goalkeeper Kristy Kuhlman and into the back of the net at the 85:24 mark.
SDSU has now won six straight games and eight of its last nine. For the ninth consecutive game, the Aztecs have limited an opposing team to less than two goals.
SDSU will play for the conference championship when it takes on second-seeded Brigham Young (19-3 overall) at noon on Saturday at the ARCO Olympic Training Center. The Cougars advanced the championship by edging third-seeded Utah, 4-3 earlier in the day. When the Aztecs played BYU earlier in the season, SDSU won, 2-0. The Aztecs have never lost to the Cougars in San Diego, posting a perfect 3-0 record all-time against BYU. In addition, SDSU has won each of its last four meetings against the Cougars dating back to 1997.
Score 1 2 TotalNo. 4 Air Force 1 0 1No. 1 SDSU 1 2 3
Goals22:39SDSUElicia Petre (Lori LaCoursiere, Megan Mattes)28:51AFABecky Wyffels (Beth Boyer)76:15SDSUElicia Petre (Lori LaCoursiere)85:24SDSUKate Qually (Lori LaCoursiere)
ShotsAir Force18SDSU9
Corner KicksAir Force0SDSU8