Oct. 1, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
TCU-San Diego State Final Box in PDF Format | Highlights
Sophomore Sarah Halverson's Golden Goal in double overtime propelled San Diego State to an exciting 1-0 victory over TCU Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The win extends the Aztecs' winning streak vs. Mountain West Conference foes to eight and lengthens its unbeaten streak against league competition to 10. With the decision, the defending Mountain West champs improve to 3-7-3 and 1-0 in the MWC, while the Horned Frogs fall to 5-6-1 (0-1 MWC).
A year ago, Halverson netted the game-winner vs. TCU in Fort Worth and she was at it again in the Mountain West opener.
After playing scoreless soccer for more than 107 minutes, San Diego State finally received the break it needed. Senior Michaela DeJesus dribbled the ball approximately 20 yards from midfield and sent a pass into the vicinity of Halverson and freshman Zoe Carroll, but was deflected slightly to the right side of the pitch. From there, Halverson controlled the ball and took a right-footed shot from just outside the box, which sailed into the upper left-hand corner of the net past the leaping TCU goalkeeper.
The game-winner was her fourth of her career and second of the season. Halverson, who scored once and added two assists last season at TCU, now, has three goals in 2010, which ties her for the team lead with DeJesus. Speaking of DeJesus, the assist was her team-best third of the year.
Prior to the Golden Goal, each team took each other's best punch as they combined for 36 total shots (SDSU 21, TCU 15).
In the first half, San Diego State had a handful of opportunities starting with senior Britney Bennett's shot in the 12th minute. The San Diego native attempted a shot from the right side, but had it blocked, only to leave Megan Jurado a clear look seven yards in front of the net, but the sophomore missed. Later, Carroll had her shot blocked leaving Halverson open, but her looping shot hit the crossbar.
After more than 10 minutes had passed, Jurado found Halverson in the box, but her attempt was off the mark by two feet and went left. A minute later, freshman Soledad Gomez had an unguarded look only to have it blocked as the match remained scoreless at halftime.
The action picked up in the second half with DeJesus starting things off in the 54th minute. The Dublin, Calif., product had a clean look and fired her shot toward the lower right corner, but was stopped by TCU's Kelsey Walters. Not 30 seconds later, Horned Frog Brittany Slyman had a wide open look, but could not connect as her shot was pushed left.
In the 61st minute, the DeJesus was at it again, this time threatening with a free kick. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, Walters made a leaping save to preserve the scoreless tie.
TCU had two great opportunities to dent the scoreboard as the match approached the 70-minute mark. In the 67th minute, Kristen Halverson was all alone, but her shot sailed high. Then three minutes later, the Horned Frogs nearly took advantage of a San Diego State misclear. After an unsuccessful attempt at trying to clear the ball, TCU's Chelsea Cody was the beneficiary of the mistake and had a good look from the right side of the net, but could not find the back of the net.
Following some tense moments, SDSU attacked and Jurado found herself with the ball on the left side of the pitch. The sophomore weaved her way through the Frogs' defense and took a solid shot, but the attempt skipped through the box and went just wide of the post in the 73rd minute. Roughly a minute and a half later, freshman Haley Palmer blasted a shot from distance, but was denied as Walters tipped the ball and forced the shot over the crossbar.
As regulation was winding down, the Horned Frogs had two legitimate chances in the final 10 minutes. After a short SDSU goalie kick that went just past midfield, Kim Castleberry took the ball, dribbled along the right side and pushed her wide-open look to the left. Then in the 87th minute, Jackie Torda made her way through the Aztec defense and put her shot off the crossbar as the match moved into overtime.
In the first extra session, Calhoun fired her shot off the left post at the 96-minute mark to record TCU's only real threat of the frame. San Diego State, however, had two outstanding chances from Jurado and fellow sophomore Marisa Fraticelli. Jurado hit the crossbar in the 98th minute and the rebound was gathered by Fraticelli, who put her shot on goal, but was met by Walters.
With only 10 minutes left in the match and the game still scoreless, the Aztecs survived an early scare in the second OT. After the ball was sent in, SDSU keeper Aubree Southwick calmly grabbed it and mishandled the ball. The miscue went to Kaylie Garcia, who sailed her shot high.
Later in overtime, Carroll had a breakaway, but was run down by Alex Mechalske. Soon thereafter, DeJesus started the play that would win the game for the Aztecs.
San Diego State kept TCU off the scoreboard to record its first shutout of 2010. With the decision, Southwick, who had three saves for the game, became the school's all-time leader in career shutouts. The senior entered the season with 23 blankings and was 0.5 shutout behind Katherine Judkins (1996-99). Earlier this season, Southwick broke the school record for saves in a single-game with 16 at No. 18 Oregon State. Prior to Southwick's effort in Corvallis, Judkins and Tina Thompson shared the record with 13 saves in games at Brigham Young (Nov. 9, 1996) and vs. Pepperdine (Sept. 19, 1993), respectively. The Danville, Calif., native already holds the SDSU record for saves in a career. She currently has 321 stops.
The Aztecs have a full week off before their next game at New Mexico. The Mountain West tilt is slated for Saturday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. MT/4 p.m. PT in Albuquerque.