Sept. 24, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Highlights and Postgame Reaction | Cal State Fullerton-San Diego State Final Box in PDF Format
The San Diego State women's soccer team attempted a furious second-half rally, but came up short as it dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Cal State Fullerton Friday afternoon. The Aztecs, which started four freshmen and three sophomores, fall to 2-6-3 with the loss, while the Titans up their record to 3-6-0.
Both teams played an even first half with SDSU sophomore Sarah Halverson logging the first legitimate chance in the 15th minute. Halverson received a pass from her right and had an open look at the net, but her shot went wide right. Fullerton's top opportunity came eight minutes later when Casey Volk had a semi-breakaway with an Aztec defender on her hip, but her blast from eight yards out sailed high.
Then in the 35th minute, the Titans got on the board when Christina Murrillo notched her fifth of the season. The midfielder found herself on the left side of the pitch roughly 25 yards out and placed her left-footed shot into the lower right-hand corner of the net just past the diving Aubree Southwick.
Leading 1-0 coming out of halftime, Cal State Fullerton continued to put decent pressure on the Aztecs. Its persistence paid off in the 54th minute when Volk, located on the left-side of the field, floated a high-arching shot that found the upper right corner of the goal, which gave the Titans a two-goal cushion.
Down by two, San Diego State created more chances for itself starting with Michaela DeJesus' opportunity in the 57th minute. The senior was all alone from 10 yards out, but her attempt was saved by Fullerton keeper Jordan Santos. Less than eight minutes later, freshman Soledad Gomez had a breakaway, but the on-coming Santos denied her from scoring SDSU's first goal of the match.
Less than two minutes later, Gomez sent a cross in from the right side and freshman Monique Rootsaert's header went just left of the post. With the Aztecs clearly in attack mode and DeJesus with a corner-kick attempt, Halverson headed the cross and missed high by two feet. Moments later, Halverson sent a cross to the left post and Rootsaert's header narrowly missed, going wide left.
After a couple of near goals, the Aztecs finally broke through in the 76th minute following a yellow card issued to Cal State Fullerton, its third of the game. DeJesus took the free kick from 20 yards out on the left side and sent the kick into the box where junior Megan McQueeny was waiting. The SDSU defender touched it once and shot it with Santos two feet in front of her. Santos stopped the shot, but was hurt on the play, and sophomore Marisa Fraticelli picked up the rebound from six yards out and found the back of the net to record her first goal of 2010.
San Diego State, still down by one and less than 15 minutes left in the regulation, continued to force the issue, but Fullerton thwarted every Aztec chance, including sophomore Megan Jurado's cross into the box that occurred with 4:10 left on the clock.
SDSU outshot the Titans, 12-8, and were led individually by Halverson's three attempts. Both teams had six shots on goal and three corner kicks apiece.
The Aztecs return to SDSU Sports Deck on Sunday when they play host to Cal Poly at 2:30 p.m. PT. The match is a part of Free Soccer Sunday presented by GoAztecs.com. Tickets are free for the contest and will follow the SDSU men's soccer team's game vs. Albany, which is slated to start at noon PT.