Sept. 18, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Sacramento State-San Diego State Final Box in PDF Format
San Diego State returned home for the first time in three weeks and shutout Sacramento State, 2-0, Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The victory improves the Aztecs' record to 4-3-2, while the Hornets fall to 3-2-2.
The game started on a slow note with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. The first 8:30 featured just two fouls, but that was quickly put to rest when Jessica Gordon attempted a shot on goal at 8:44. Niki Fernandes recorded the next two shots, which were more than 10 minutes apart, before Hayley Marsh had her first attempt go wide left off a corner kick from Allie Crowson at 21:24.
Sacramento State posted its first shot five minutes after Marsh as Jessica Castano had her attempt blocked. But not 45 seconds later, Kelsey O'Donnell tried finding the back of the net only to have it sail high at 26:27.
Following a Hornet foul, San Diego State was awarded a free kick and Marsh cashed in on the opportunity as she deposited her shot in the upper left corner from 25 yards out to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead. The goal was Marsh's second of the season and first since the 2009 opener.
SDSU kept the pressure on Sacramento State for the rest of the half, outshooting the Hornets 5-2, including a pair of shots in the final two-plus minutes, but went into halftime with the same 1-0 cushion.
In the second half, the Aztecs kept coming at the Hornets and goalkeeper Savannah Abercrombie, but the visitors kept SDSU at bay. Crowson was denied at 46:26 as was Tiffany Hurst at 55:27. Fernandes had her shot go wide right just over a minute after Hurst's attempt before Sacramento State's Cori Shreve notched the Hornets' only shot on goal at 60:30, which was greeted with open arms by San Diego State keeper Aubree Southwick.
Marisa Fraticelli attempted her first shot of the season at 64:54, but was stopped by Abercrombie. Not four minutes later though, the Aztecs padded their lead when Fernandes dribbled the ball from 18 yards out and fired a shot that found the bottom left side of the goal (68:29), giving SDSU a 2-0 lead. Like Marsh, the score was Fernandes' second of the year.
The final 20-plus minutes of the game was a back-and-forth affair with just one shot being taken the rest of the way. As the horn sounded, San Diego State head coach Mike Friesen posted a win over his college teammate and Sacramento State head coach Randy Dedini. The two played together in the 1990s while at Sonoma State.
For the game, SDSU outshot the Hornets 16-6 and received a match-high five from Marsh and four from Fernandes. As dominant as the Aztecs were on offensive, they were equally impressive on defense in front of Southwick as she only had to make one save. Abercrombie, on the other hand, tallied six saves for the Hornets.
San Diego State continues its seven-game homestand on Sunday as it entertains Long Beach State. Game time at SDSU Sports Deck is scheduled for noon PT.