Aug. 26, 2005
FULLERTON, Calif. - Freshman Jen Mello and senior Amanda Swiader each scored goals, and freshman Christi Yount made five saves to lead the San Diego State women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton Friday night in Fullerton, Calif., in the season-opening game for both teams.
After a scoreless first half which saw the Titans (0-1) outshoot the Aztecs (1-0), 4-3, Mello connected on a shot early in the second session (55:30) from 20 yards out past the diving CS Fullerton goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and into the upper-right corner of the net. Mello's first career tally proved to be the game-winner.
At the 81:16 mark, sophomore Tiphanie Elliott found herself alone on a breakaway chance but was fouled in the 18-yard box by a Titan player, leading to a penalty kick attempt. Swiader drilled it into the right corner for her fourth career goal, putting the game out of reach.
"It was a heroic game," second-year head coach Mike Giuliano said of SDSU, which started six newcomers. "We played poorly in the first 15 minutes, but we made adjustments and had a great second half. We were without two of our most potent offensive players (freshmen Alicia Piz and Erika Sutton), but we survived. This was a big win for us."
Yount (1-0) stopped five shots, including a breakaway attempt early in the first half, to record the shutout in her first game as an Aztec.
SDSU will host Northern Arizona at noon Sunday at the SDSU Sports Deck in the two school's first-ever meeting.