LOGAN, Utah – Sophomore Laura Fuentes scored the lone goal of the game, a 68th minute header, in the San Diego State women's soccer's 1-0 victory over Utah State in a Mountain West match-up on Sunday afternoon.
The win improves the Aztecs to 5-7-1, 4-2-0 in conference play. San Diego State completes the week in a second-place tie on the league table with New Mexico, which SDSU faces in the final game of the regular season, and Colorado State, which it defeated 2-0 on Sept. 29. Utah State drops to 6-7-1 and 1-4-1 in Mountain West games.
Tied 0-0 in the 68th minute, the Aztecs had a corner kick. It was taken by Taylor Moorehead and cleared, but the clearance went just outside the top of the 18 where Sarah Broacha chipped it back inside the six. Laura Fuentes was in the right place at the right time and headed it on into the goal. It was her second goal of the season for the conference's 2018 Newcomer of the Year and her second in as many games. Broacha's assist was her first this season.
After the tally, San Diego State had to weather a blistering attack from the Aggies in order to secure the win. Brooke Lisowski, who recorded her fourth clean sheet of the season, made a critical save in the 88th minute to preserve the win. Off a Utah State corner there was a scrum in front of the six for a loose ball. Lisowski forced her way through the pack and smothered the Aggies final chance to find the equalizer.
The Aztecs dominated the run of play throughout the first half. SDSU was credited with five shots to Utah State's one. Taylor Moorehead and Chloe Frisch's strikes from outside the 18 were San Diego State's best opportunities in the first 45 minutes. SDSU took four corners to none for the Aggies but couldn't convert any of its set piece chances.
Utah State upped its level in the second half. They took 11 shots to SDSU's six and had seven corner kicks to San Diego State's two. USU had the better second-half stat sheet, but the Aztecs produced the critical goal and secured the victory.
For the game, Utah State outshot the SDSU 12-to-11. Chloe Frisch lead the Aztec attack with a team and game-high four shots. Moorehead produced two while Malia Kaleiohi, Fuentes, Darcy Weiser, Ariana Robles and Veronica Avalos took a shot apiece. Lisowski (5-7-1) had five saves on the day, including four in the second half.
Utah State's Mealii Enos topped her squad with three shots and keeper Diera Walton made three saves and surrendered the game's only goal.
THE QUOTE
"We came out determined in the first half," said head women's soccer coach Mike Friesen. "We wanted to be aggressive and did a decent job of it, but we weren't able to get a goal. I told the team that this would be a gritty game and we would have to grind it out if we wanted to come a way with a win. I was pleased with our effort all day. We went into survival mode there for about a ten-minute stretch near the end, but in the last couple of minutes we were able to regroup and finish the game off. These wins are incredibly important. We want to keep pace with the team in front of us and secure one of those first-round byes in the conference tournament.
NEXT UP
The Aztecs four game stretch away from home, its longest of the season, is at its halfway point. SDSU returns to action next weekend with games at Air Force (Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. PT) and Colorado College (Oct. 20 at 12 p.m. PT).
Women’s Soccer Leaves Utah State With 1-0 Win
