Nov. 16, 2012
Final Box | Postgame Presser | Highlights
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State women's soccer redshirt senior Tiffany Hurst tallied the game-winning goal on Friday night to help propel second-seeded and fourth-ranked SDSU to a 2-1 victory over California in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs improve to 21-1-1, while the Golden Bears finish their season with a 16-6-0 mark.
The victory, which was SDSU's 14th straight, brings the team's all-time Tournament record to 4-3 and puts the Aztecs into the third round for just the second time in school history. The win also gives San Diego State its most victories in a NCAA Tournament (two).
Hurst, who entered the contest with three game-winners on the season, came through in the clutch with her fifth goal of 2012 at the 82:53 mark. Hannah Keane set up the game-deciding sequence as the sophomore crossed in a pass to Hurst, who gathered it and fired an attempt from 19 yards out into the lower left corner. The Aztecs also received a goal from Keane earlier in the game at the 52:29 mark.
The rest of the first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team being able to get on the scoreboard. As a result, the Golden Bears went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
San Diego State wasted little time out of the gate in the second half as it tied the game just 7:29 into the period. Keane fought her way past two defenders and then fired a shot from the right side into the upper left corner of the net for her seventh goal of the season.
The Aztecs continued to keep the pressure on California and they were able to gain the upper hand in the 83rd minute when Hurst scored what would ultimately be the game-winner.
The Golden Bears kept looking for the equalizer as time clicked off the clock, but redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Boaz hung in there and didn't allow a goal to pick up her 21st win of the year. SDSU ended up winning the shot battle by a 12-10 margin and finished with a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
The Aztecs move onto the round of 16 and will play host to No. 6 UCLA (17-2-2), which was a 5-0 winner over Kentucky, earlier in the day at SDSU Sports Deck. Sunday's third round matchup is set for a 12 p.m. PT start at SDSU Sports Deck.
NCAA Tournament 3rd Round Ticket Information
Tickets are still available and will go on sale at 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday at the SDSU Sports Deck ticket office. Seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis in bleacher-type seating. Tickets, which must be paid for in cash, are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth and students with valid ID. Children 2 and younger will not require a ticket.