Oct. 21, 2016
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -
San Diego State-Colorado State Final Box
San Diego State women's soccer earned a 2-1 victory at Colorado State on Friday afternoon. The win was the Aztecs' fourth straight and moved them to 8-6-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the Mountain West. The Rams, meanwhile, fell to 3-12-2 (1-7-1 MW).
SDSU was forced to rally for the second straight game after CSU netted a goal in the 37th minute. Maddi Rodriguez scored her first goal of the season off a feed from Maddie Kessler and the scoreboard remained unchanged for the balance of the first half.
Facing an identical situation to Sunday's tilt vs. Utah State, the Aztecs mounted their comeback and at nearly the same moment as they did vs. the Aggies. Against USU, San Diego State found the equalizing goal off a free kick by Victoria Barba in the 62nd minute. Today, they used a Barba penalty kick in the 66th to level the score.
Barba and the Aztecs were awarded the penalty kick after Aliyah Utush was taken down in the box as she was barreling in on the right side. The goal was Barba's fourth of the season and her third in the last two games.
SDSU later moved ahead of the home-standing Rams 121 seconds later in the 68th minute when Utush, again, was attacking from the right side. The junior cut in and passed the ball to Dani DeRosa, who was cutting in herself, but from the left side. The senior one-timed it into the lower left corner to give her two goals in her last three games.
As for Utush, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, the assist was her sixth of the season. The Rocklin, California native has recorded at least one point in three straight outings, totaling five points. Of her five points, three have come by way of assist, each of which have led to game-winning goals.
SDSU, which clinched a spot in the Mountain West Championship to be held at SDSU Sports Deck (Nov. 1, 3, 5) with the decision, finished with 21 shots, including nine goal, and eight corner kicks. CSU, meanwhile, had 10 shots with three on goal and attempted two corners.
Barba, Utush and Jen Rupey led all players with four shots. Utush led everyone with four shots on goal. Gabby English picked up win No. 8 on the year and was credited with one save.
The Aztecs, unbeaten in their last five (4-0-1), continue their final road trip of the season on Sunday when they play at Wyoming. First tap in Laramie is set for 1 p.m. MT with the game streaming live on the Mountain West Network and GoAztecs.com.