Oct. 14, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
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San Diego State sophomore Carli Johnson scored the Golden Goal off a header in the 99th minute as the Aztecs defeated Air Force, 2-1, in overtime Thursday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The victory gives the Aztecs their fifth straight regular season home win over Mountain West Conference foes and improves their record to 4-8-3 (2-1 MWC). The Falcons, meanwhile, watch their record fall to 7-7-1 (0-3 MWC).
SDSU dominated the match from start to finish, but needed overtime to get the job done when the score was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes of action.
In the extra session, the Aztecs controlled the pace and enjoyed a handful of quality chances, including Johnson's pass that found sophomore Megan Jurado, who had a clear look, but was denied by Falcon goalkeeper Kelly Stambaugh. The sequence, which was started by Johnson, was a sign of things to come as the freshman ended the game more than four minutes later.
San Diego State, which was in the midst of applying offensive pressure, earned a corner kick from the left side and Jurado's corner attempt was subsequently knocked out of bounds by Air Force, awarding the Aztecs a corner kick from the right side. Freshman Haley Palmer took the ensuing corner and sent it into the box where Johnson headed the ball into the net from eight yards out to give the home team the decision.
The match required extra time as a result of single goals in each of the first two halves.
Johnson and Palmer's classmate, freshman Soledad Gomez, gave the Aztecs the lead in the 23rd minute with her first of her career. Palmer took the corner kick from the same side as her game-winning boot and the ball went through the defense and found Gomez. The Vista, Calif., native then turned and shot from five yards out, and found the back of the net.
Sporting a 1-0 lead, the Aztecs continued to create quality chances for the rest of the half, but experienced bad luck on a handful of plays, eventually settling for the 1-0 halftime lead. At the end of 45 minutes, SDSU owned a 13-1 advantage in shots, including an 8-0 in shots on goal, and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
In the second half, San Diego State maintained its high level of play and continued to fire shots in the direction of Stambaugh. Air Force, however, caught the break it needed as Stephanie Patterson took a pass from Megan Dozier and knocked her shot off the left post and into the net to level the score. Patterson's fifth goal of the season was an open look from the right channel from 20 yards out.
With just more than 14 minutes remaining in regulation, the Aztecs routinely had opportunities to score and end the match within the 90-minute timeframe, but came away empty to force extra time.
Johnson's goal was her second of the season and her first of the game-winning variety. Gomez's goal provided her with her first points of her career, while Palmer's two assists gives her a team-high-tying three for the season.
Senior goalkeeper Aubree Southwick enjoyed a relatively quiet day as she made one save. Southwick now needs just two denials to break the all-time MWC career saves record of 327 set by Kristen Winters of New Mexico.
At the final horn, San Diego State outshot Air Force, 30-5, and put 12 shots on goal compared to the Falcons' 2. SDSU also owned a 14-0 advantage in corner kicks. The 30 shots were the most attempted by a San Diego State women's soccer team in the 11-year history of SDSU Sports Deck. The previous record was 27 when the Aztecs defeated Air Force, 7-0, back in 2008.
San Diego State, which played its best all-around game of the season, is 9-1 in its last 10 and unbeaten in 11 of its last 12 vs. Mountain West competition. The Aztecs will look to continue their high level of play within the conference on Saturday as they play host to Wyoming at 11 a.m. PT.