Nov. 4, 2004
PROVO, Utah - The third-seeded San Diego State women's soccer team earned a trip to the Mountain West Conference Championship game for the first time since 1999 with a 2-0 victory over No. 7 Air Force Thursday night at South Stadium. The Aztecs (8-7-5) will face fourth-seeded Utah (13-5-2), who shutout No. 1 UNLV, 2-0, in the other semifinal match, at 11 a.m. (MST) Saturday for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
SDSU got on the scoreboard just 9:18 into the game when sophomore Amanda McKay's corner kick from the left side of the field deflected off the Falcon goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal was McKay's first collegiate goal.
The Aztecs controlled the play and kept the ball in Air Force's defensive side of the field for the rest of the first half with many quality chances, including two near misses by senior Jessica Korpela, and went into intermission with a 6-0 lead in shots.
SDSU continued its pressure style of defense and did not allow a shot until the 71st minute. On the counterattack, the Aztecs scored their second goal when freshman Jessica Girdner headed her first career collegiate goal off a cross from senior Gina Salinas to give SDSU a 2-0 lead.
The Aztecs outshot the Falcons, 11-3, for the game and held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.