Oct. 10, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Utah-San Diego State Final Box in PDF Format
Despite outshooting Utah by a count of 24-7, the San Diego State women's soccer team managed to score only once and settled for a 1-1 double-overtime draw on Saturday at SDSU Sports Deck. With their second consecutive tie, the Aztecs extended their unbeaten streak to eight games and watched their record move to 7-3-5 overall and 0-0-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
The first half featured a handful of scoring chances for both teams with more than half occurring within the first 13 minutes. SDSU freshman Niki Fernandes started things for the Aztecs as her first shot on goal was saved by Utah keeper Hannah Turpen. Not more than a minute-and-a-half later, Fernandes was back at it again, but this time her shot sailed just left of the cage. On the ensuing possession, Utah (6-7-2; 1-1-1 MWC) made its way into Aztec territory and Lauren Hair found herself in a one-on-one situation with San Diego State goalkeeper Aubree Southwick. Hair blasted her shot toward the net, but Southwick denied her attempt and added to her school-record saves total. The Utes had another golden chance five minutes later, but Erin Dalley's shot went wide left.
At the mid-way point of the first half, the Aztecs found themselves deep in the Utah zone and were awarded a corner kick. The kick, which was taken by Cat Walker, found Michaela DeJesus, who took a quality shot toward the goal, but had her shot blocked. With the rebound coming right back to her, DeJesus took another rip at it, but that, too, was blocked. Utah had one more opportunity at 24:37, but was offsides, effectively killing the sequence. The first 45 minutes ended in a scoreless tie with SDSU holding a 5-3 advantage in shots.
Coming out of the break, San Diego State increased its offensive pressure and it almost paid off from the start of the second half. Just 3:15 into the period, Jessica Gordon was on the receiving end of a Fernandes touch, beat a defender and her shot went just left of the goal. Ninety seconds later, Walker booted a corner kick that found Megan McQueeny, who attempted a header that, again, was just off the mark and sailed high. Following a Walker shot that was saved by Turpen, Fernandes logged the Aztecs next scoring chance as she beat three Utes and put her shot just over the crossbar in the 63rd minute. Walker and Gordon both attempted single shots of their own that both went wide left before Megan Jurado found Fernandes with a nice pass on the right side, but Fernandes couldn't put it away.
The Aztecs' persistence finally paid off in the 79th minute when Walker netted her fifth goal of the year. Gordon, who was located in the right-center of the box, found a streaking Walker on the left side and she blasted her shot into back of the net from eight yards out. The assist was Gordon's team-best fourth of the season.
Utah, which attempted just one shot over the next 8:30, dented the scoreboard in the 87th minute to tie the score at 1-1. Hanna Terry, who found herself in space on the left side, attempted a shot from 25 yards out and placed it in the right side of the net just past the outstretched arms of Southwick. Fernandes had a pair of chances in the final 17 seconds, but had one blocked and the other go left as the match went into overtime. At this point, SDSU increased its shot advantage to 16-7.
In the first extra session, San Diego State did not let up and attacked from the beginning. With the ball in the box almost near the goal line, Gordon was stopped by Turpen with Fernandes corralling the rebound. Unfortunately for Fernandes, she could not put an end to the game as her shot zipped by the left post. With the ball firmly in the Aztecs' possession, DeJesus had an open look that went high and 40 seconds later, Walker crossed a pass to Gordon, who went just right of the goal. Then in the final 30 seconds, Jurado put one on goal, but was unsuccessful. Just in the first 10-minute overtime period alone, the Aztecs had six shots to Utah's zero.
With 10 minutes to earn a positive result, San Diego State worked hard to put the game away, but managed only two, albeit high-quality, shots. In the 103rd minute, Marisa Fraticelli placed her ball in an area which gave Jurado a point-blank opportunity, but suffered a bit of bad luck as her shot was saved. Then with 53 seconds to go, Walker put her shot on goal, but could not provide the game-winner as the clock eventually expired.
San Diego State, which appeared to have a player taken down in the box in the second half, but did not receive a call, finished with an advantage in corner kicks (7-3) and shots on goal (8-4).
Fernandes led SDSU with eight shots, while Walker was second with six of her own. Both shared team-high honors with three shots on goal. Southwick, meanwhile, made three saves and played all 110 minutes. San Diego State's 24 shots, most of which were high-quality chances, were three off the facility record of 27, established last season vs. Air Force.
The Aztecs return to action on Thursday, Oct. 15, when they play at Wyoming. Game time is set for 3 p.m. MT.