Oct. 22, 2000
SAN DIEGO - In the most important game of the season to this point, the San Diego State women's soccer team defeated UNLV, 4-2 at the Sports Deck on Sunday.
Freshman sensation Kim Castellanos (Rancho Bernardo HS) led the charge for the Aztecs (7-11 overall, 4-2 Mountain West Conference), recording her second hat trick in as many games. Midfielder Fay deLeon added her sixth goal of the season to round out the scoring for SDSU.
In a game ripe with seeding implications for the upcoming MWC tournament, the Aztecs roared out of the gates, jumping out to a 2-0 lead just eight minutes in behind goals from Castellanos at the 2:30 mark and deLeon at 7:33. However, UNLV (10-7 overall, 3-3 MWC) fought back and tied the game after goals from Rachael Buscovich and Janae Sims.
The Rebels controlled the action for the last 15 minutes of the first half, and had all the momentum going into halftime. However, it was SDSU who was in control to start the second half, and the Aztecs recaptured the lead when Castellanos struck again at 54:33. The game went back and forth from that point on, and it became far more physical. Both teams had chances to score, but SDSU goalkeeper Linnea Qui?ones and UNLV keeper Shannon Wilson both made saves on shots that seemed destined to find the back of the net.
Castellanos put the game away at the 81:25 mark when she finished a breakaway chance against Wilson after a Rebel defender badly misplayed a punt from Qui?ones.
Castellanos becomes the first player in SDSU history to record two hat tricks in her career, much less in two consecutive games. In addition, she climbed into the school's top 10 for goals in a single season with 10. Castellanos also becomes the first Mountain West Conference player to record back-to-back hat tricks.
The Aztecs' win coupled with Utah's victory over Air Force on Sunday make it so SDSU will go into the MWC tournament as the third seed. The Aztecs could see either Air Force or New Mexico in the opening round of the tournament. If the Falcons beat Wyoming in Laramie this Wednesday, they will play SDSU in the opening round. If Wyoming wins, the Aztecs will face the Lobos. SDSU beat Air Force earlier in the season, 1-0 and New Mexico, 4-0.
The Aztecs will conclude their regular season when they travel to Fresno to take on non-conference opponent Fresno State at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. SDSU will be looking for its first road win of the season in that contest.
Goal SummaryTime Team Goal Scorer(#) Assists(#)2:30 SDSU Kim Castellanos (8) Fay deLeon (7)/Elicia Petre (4)7:33 SDSU Fay deLeon (6) Nicole Findlay (2)19:36 UNLV Rachael Buscovich (2) unassisted35:06 UNLV Janae Sims (10) Tania Lee54:33 SDSU Kim Castellanos (9) Rebecca Prilaman (2)/Hannah Garl (1)81:25 SDSU Kim Castellanos (10) unassisted