Oct. 15, 2009
LARAMIE, Wyo. -
San Diego State-Wyoming Final Box in PDF Format 
San Diego State upped its unbeaten streak to nine games and cooled off a hot Wyoming squad as the Aztecs shutout the Cowgirls, 2-0, Friday afternoon at Louis S. Madrid Soccer Complex. SDSU improved to 8-3-5 overall (1-0-2 Mountain West Conference) and snapped Wyoming's five-match winning streak in the process as the hosts fell to 9-5-2 (3-1-0 MWC).
In the first half, the Aztecs controlled pace and outshot the Cowgirls, 5-3. In the early going, both teams traded possessions until Niki Fernandes attempted a shot in the 10th minute that forced Wyoming goalkeeper Courtney Merkle to make a save on the play. Hayley Marsh and Cat Walker followed Fernandes' lead in the 20th and 23rd minute, respectively, but were stopped again by Merkle. Wyoming took the next three shots with only one coming on goal and Walker closed the offense and the half with two shots of her own in the final five minutes as the game remained scoreless at halftime.
Much like the first 45 minutes, Fernandes applied the offensive pressure early and her effort paid off as she tallied her fourth goal of the season at 54:55. The freshman dribbled the ball into the box, took her shot from the right side and cashed in on the opportunity to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead.
Over the course of the next 13-plus minutes, San Diego State attempted three unsuccessful shots, two of which were quality chances, while preventing Wyoming from getting anything going offensively. In the 77th minute, Aubree Southwick made her second save of the game when Nicole Rice attempted to tie the score.
Shortly after Rice's shot on goal, Mara Cosgrove shot two consecutive balls toward the net, but one was saved and another blocked as the Aztecs remained in control with 11 minutes left in regulation. Much like Cosgrove's sequence, SDSU had a golden opportunity as Taylor Canatsey put one on goal and was followed by Jessica Gordon's attempt just seconds later, but both were stopped by Merkle. With the Aztecs earning a corner kick on the ensuing play, Walker's boot found Mille Allen, who hit the crossbar in the 85th minute.
After a Wyoming shot, which was saved by Southwick, San Diego State successfully defended a Cowgirl corner kick and made its way down field. Then in the 89th minute, Fernandes touched the ball over to a wide-open Walker in the box and she calmly tucked the ball into the net to provide the final margin. The goal was Walker's team-leading sixth of the season and marked the second straight game in which she scored.
With Walker's goal and Fernandes' goal and assist, the pair becomes SDSU's first two players to reach double figures in points. Walker now has 15 points, while Fernandes has 10 to her credit.
Southwick finished the game with four saves and posted her sixth shutout of the season and 19th of her career. In 2008, San Diego State had only five shutouts and Southwick had three of them.
At the final horn, the Aztecs held an advantage in shots (13-9), shots on goal (9-4) and corner kicks (5-3).
SDSU, which is 5-0-4 in its last nine, continues its road trip on Saturday as it takes on Air Force. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT at the Academy.