Sept. 19, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Devon Nizich took a pass from Brianna Monka midway through the first overtime and drilled the ball into the left corner on the net to give the Cal State Northridge women's soccer team a 2-1 victory over San Diego State Monday at the SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs (5-4), who started eight freshmen for the first time this season, lost their second consecutive overtime match in four days.
Unlike last year's meeting in Northridge between the two teams, where a combined five goals were scored on 16 shots in the first half, neither team's offense really got going in the first session.
However, SDSU took advantage of its first scoring opportunity at the 25:02 mark when freshman Jen Mello scored her fourth goal of the season. Classmate Erika Sutton beat a Matador (6-1) defender on the right side of the field and slid the ball to Mello who one-touched it into the right corner of the net. Sutton was credited with her team-leading fourth assist of the season.
The first half ended with each team tied with two shots apiece and Cal State Northridge owning a 4-1 lead in corner kicks.
There was more action in the second half, as the two team's combined for 13 shots (CSUN 8, SDSU 5) and 10 corner kicks (SDSU 6, CSUN 4). The Matadors had a chance to tie the match in the 77th minute, but Aztec freshman goalkeeper Christi Yount (5-4) stopped Kristy Krohn's breakaway chance and deflected the ball out of harm's way.
Cal State Northridge responded a short time later, however, evening the game at one apiece when Suzie Mischenko took Tryna Tafoya's cross from the right side and knocked it into the left corner in the 80th minute.
The match would stay tied until Nizich's game-winner at the 95:40 mark of the first overtime.
Sophomore Casey Davidson came off the bench and had three shots on goal for SDSU, and Sutton added two attempts. Sophomore Ashley Tenn, Mello and freshman Mariko Strickland also had a shot for the Aztecs, who lost for the first time in 31 tries when scoring the game's first goal.
Yount played all 95:40 for SDSU and made two saves.
The Aztecs will host Pacific at 4 p.m. Friday at the SDSU Sports Deck.