Oct. 16, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
Utah State-San Diego State Final Box 
Victoria Barba scored a pair of goals to lead San Diego State to a 2-1 victory over visiting Utah State on Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The win moved the Aztecs' record to 7-6-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the Mountain West. Utah State, on the other hand, fell to 9-7 (5-3 MW).
"It was an awesome weekend for the team," head coach Mike Friesen said. "One of things that is really fun about where we're at right now is looking back on how we started the season, having experienced some of the ups and downs, the grind, and to be where we're at right now is really special. To have a weekend like this where we had two teams ahead of us coming in and then getting results is a pretty special weekend. We've put ourselves in a position, where we've been the last four years, to win another title. It's in our court in terms of the next three games. We need to maximize our points and see if we can't get another championship out of this."
The bookend of an "awesome" weekend for the Aztecs did not come easy despite what the final stats say. San Diego State played from behind after a 30th minute goal from Utah State's Bailee Hammond gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead.
Up to that point and for the entire first half, Utah State did not threaten the Aztecs, but possessed the ball for a majority of the time. San Diego State attempted 10 shots and nearly received a goal from Aliyah Utush in the opening minutes, but the junior could not convert. As for the visitors, they earned a corner kick and turned it into a scoring chance, converting through a scrum in front of the SDSU net.
Utah State carried the lead into the 61st minute, but the Aztecs found the equalizer when Barba fed Hedda Regefalk, who was tripped at the top of the box. SDSU was not rewarded a penalty kick, but it would not matter as Barba cashed in the free kick from 18 yards out for her second goal of the season.
SDSU continued to put pressure on the Aggies offensively, all while limiting Utah State's scoring opportunities. The Aggies, who attempted four shots in the first 45 minutes, were held in check in the second half and did not get their fifth shot of the game until the 88th minute.
But prior to Utah State's only shot of the second half, Barba netted the would-be winner in the 87th minute. The senior midfielder took a corner and tapped it to Utush, who gave the ball back to her, and Barba took it from there, blasting a shot from the corner of the box and through the hands of USU goalkeeper Natalie Stoven.
SDSU kept the Aggies off the scoreboard for the final 3:41 and the Aztecs stayed alive in the Mountain West regular-season title race. San Diego State, which is alone in second place, owns 17 points and trails UNLV and its 19 points.
The Aztecs finished with 19 shots, five shots on goal and seven corner kicks. The Aggies, meanwhile, recorded five shots, two shots on goal and four corner kicks.
Individually, Utush had a game-high five shots, including two on target, and her team-high fifth assist of the season. Barba, Dani DeRosa and Jen Rupey all had three shots apiece. Goalkeeper Gabby English picked up win No. 7 and made one save.
San Diego State returns to action on Friday, Oct. 21, when its plays at Colorado State. The game is set for a 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT start and will stream live on the Mountain West Network and GoAztecs.com.