Aug. 30, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. -
San Diego State-Stanford Final Box in PDF Format 
The San Diego State women's soccer team nearly pulled off the biggest upset of the young 2009 season when they led fourth-ranked Stanford, 2-0, with less than 32 minutes left in regulation. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, they could not withstand the furious rally put forth by the Cardinal and allowed five goals in the final 26 minutes to fall in heartbreaking fashion, 5-2, at Cagan Stadium.
The Aztecs (2-2) got on the board first on an unassisted goal from freshman Niki Fernandes at 40:41. The first-year player from Utah fought off a defender in a one-on-one situation and scored on a low shot to the far post. The goal, which was her first of the season, marked Stanford's first deficit of 2009 and gave SDSU a 1-0 lead minutes later when the halftime horn went off.
Coming out of the mid-game break, San Diego State put itself in prime position to pull off the upset when senior Jessica Gordon scored at 51:31 from the right side off a pass from Cat Walker. Gordon's first of the year was tipped by Cardinal goalkeeper Kira Maker and found its way inside the right post, giving the visitors a 2-0 cushion with more than 38 minutes left to play.
Stanford (3-0) answered with a goal of its own 6 minutes and 14 seconds later as Christen Press scored at 57:45 on a header from the middle after a pass from Courtney Verloo from the right side. With more than 32 minutes left to secure the victory and clinging to a one-goal lead, SDSU goalie Aubree Southwick saved a shot only to have the Cardinal's Teresa Noyola gather the rebound and knock in the tying goal at 61:05.
With all of the momentum on Stanford's side, the Aztecs had a hard time regrouping and allowed yet another goal, this time by Kelley O'Hara 2 minutes and 18 seconds later. The Cardinal went on to tally two more goals (Noyola - 77:09, Press - 83:11) in the final 26 minutes to complete the comeback.
SDSU was led by Fernandes in shots (3) and shots on goal (2), while Southwick recorded a season-high nine saves.
San Diego State's two goals tied Hawai'i from earlier this season for the most goals allowed by a Stanford team since it gave up two to UConn in Nov. 23, 2007 (L, 2-0). The Aztecs' scoring production was also the most by a visiting team since Oct. 14, 2007, when California scored twice at The Farm.
SDSU returns to the pitch Friday, Sept. 4, when it travels cross country to take on Harvard. Match time is slated for 3 p.m. ET/noon PT in Boston.