Nov. 6, 2004
The fourth-seeded Utah women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament after defeating No. 3 San Diego State, 4-3, in a shootout. The two teams were tied at 1 after 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
The Aztecs (8-7-6) jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the shootout after junior Amanda Swiader and senior Shannon McBride each made their penalty attempt and senior goalkeeper Sophia Perez stopped an Utah (13-5-3) shot. After two SDSU misses and two Ute makes, Utah had a 3-2 lead. Senior Alexis Solovij tied the shootout at 3, before the Utes' Erin Pruett scored to give Utah the 4-3 win and 2004 Mountain West Conference Championship.
Like their previous match on Oct. 9, which ended in a 0-0 double-overtime tie, the first half of regulation was back and forth throughout. The Aztecs took the first four shots of the game and finished with five in the first half to the Utes four. Utah had the best chance to score in the first half (16th minute) but freshman Kiley Jones' head ball was stopped with a diving save by Perez.
The Utes got on the scoreboard just 2:12 into the second half when sophomore Hailey Marsh headed a shot into the upper-right corner from nine yards out off a cross from freshman Emily Campbell. The goal was the first given up by SDSU in the postseason.
The Aztecs answered at the 56:08 mark off a direct kick sent in by junior Ashley Cooper from the left side of the field. Swiader headed the ball to freshman Tiphanie Elliott who drilled a shot from 10 yards away into the right corner of the net for her second goal of the season.
Utah had a chance to take the lead two minutes later when senior Lauren Field found herself wide-open on the left side of the penalty box. Field took a shot low to the left corner where SDSU goalkeeper Perez made a kick save, deflecting the ball out of bounds.
Regulation play ended with the score tied at 1. Heading into overtime, the Utes held a 12-6 advantage in shots and a 4-0 lead in corner kicks.
After two scoreless overtimes in which Utah had two shots and the Aztecs had one attempt, the match headed to a shootout, SDSU's first in their 16-year history.
For the match, the Utah outshot the Aztecs, 14-7, and had a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Perez, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, finished the game with seven saves, while the Utes' Ashley Mason made four stops.
Senior Noelle Jouglet, and juniors Alexis Solovij and Amanda Swiader joined Perez on the all-tournament team.