Aug. 25, 2000
SAN DIEGO - Nicole Findlay, a junior college All-American from Santa Rosa JC, made her Division I collegiate debut an impressive one, scoring both goals to lead San Diego State to a 2-1 victory over Mississippi in the season opener for both squads. The game was the first official contest played at the Aztecs' new soccer/track facility, the SDSU Sports Deck.
Following a scoreless first half, Findlay got the Aztecs on the board first in the 53rd minute. After being sent clear by freshman Rebecca Prilaman, she calmly chipped the ball over Rebel goalkeeper Melinda Smith from 18 yards. Some 20 minutes later, Findlay, a junior from Fairfield, Calif., took a through ball from midfielder Fay deLeon and rounded the Ole Miss keeper before slotting the ball into the open goal from 8 yards.
Ole Miss picked up a consolation goal with two minutes remaining when Kristin Chapman blocked an attempted clearance that looped over Aztec goalie Linnea Qui?ones and into the net.
After a scoreless first half, the offensive action picked up in the second period with the Aztecs outshooting the Rebels 15-8 after the break (22-11 over the course of the game). Ole Miss goalie Melinda Smith, who was subbed in the 78th minute, was the busier of the two goalkeepers, making nine save on the game compared to four by SDSU's Qui?ones.
"Nicole finished her chances very well," said head coach Chuck Clegg. "Our back line played well and Linnea (Qui?ones) came up big a couple times. Overall it was a good performance, especially when you consider how many new players we had out there."
San Diego State continues its season-opening two-game homestand when Loyola Marymount visits the SDSU Sports Deck on Tuesday, August 29, at 3:00 p.m. The Aztecs then go on to play their next seven games on the road.
San Diego State 2, Mississippi 1 1 2 TMississippi 0 1 1SDSU 0 2 2Scoring: SDS - Findlay (Prilaman), 52:11 SDS - Findlay (deLeon, Petre), 73:26 MISS - Chapman (Unassisted), 88:02Shots: SDS-22, MISS-11Saves: SDS-4 (Qui?ones-4). MISS-10 (Smith-9, Gillespie-1)Fouls: SDS-6, MISS-9Corners: SDS-8, MISS-2Cautions: MISS-Sample (Dissent, 69:33)Att - 118