Oct. 21, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY -
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San Diego State, behind Michaela DeJesus' goal in the 70th minute, picked up its first win at Utah since 1998 and defeated the Utes, 1-0, Thursday night at Ute Field. With its road victory, SDSU improves to 6-8-3 overall and 4-1 in the Mountain West Conference. Utah, meanwhile, watches its record fall to 4-13-1 (2-2-1 MWC).
Coming into the contest, the Aztecs were 2-4-2 vs. the Utes in Salt Lake City and winless in their last six trips in a series that dates back to 1996. San Diego State's last victory came almost 12 years to the day, Oct. 22, 1998, when it posted a 4-0 win. SDSU's other decision was a 2-0 shutout on Oct. 26, 1996.
San Diego State was able to emerge with its fourth conference victory this season thanks in large part to junior Kim Carcich and DeJesus.
Utah came out and controlled the tempo for much of the first half as evidenced by its 6-2 shot advantage and its 2-1 edge in corner kicks. The match, however, swung in SDSU's direction near the end of the initial 45 minutes when Carcich entered the game.
The junior newcomer, while playing central midfield, had a calming effect on the Aztecs as she routinely connected on passes and put her teammates in great positions to make plays. The La Crescenta, Calif., native continued her stellar effort after halftime and the visitors started to get into a rhythm.
In the second half, the Aztecs enjoyed better chances and, as a result, outshot the hosts, 6-5, and held a 4-0 advantage in shots on goal. The one shot that proved to be the game-winner came immediately after a foul, which awarded San Diego State with a free kick. DeJesus came forward to take the kick and fired off a shot from the middle of the goal that bent to the right post and past the keeper to give SDSU the lead. The goal, which was from 20 yards out at 69:03, was the senior's team-best fourth of the year and her first game-winner of 2010.
Goalkeeper Aubree Southwick finished with two saves and logged her second shutout of the season and her sixth win of the year. For San Diego State, it's the team's third blanking of the campaign and the second in as many outings. Southwick and Megan Allaire combined to keep Wyoming off the scoreboard last Saturday.
Additionally, the Aztecs have won 11 of their last 12 vs. MWC foes and are unbeaten in 13 of the last 14 vs. the conference.
SDSU continues its final road trip of the campaign on Saturday when it takes on 13th-ranked BYU in Provo, Utah. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT and can be seen on BYUtv. The contest will also be streamed live at byutv.org.