STANFORD, Calif. – San Diego State women's soccer keeper Alexa Madueno made a career-high 14 saves on Sunday at No. 13 Stanford, but the Cardinal offense was too potent, producing 44 shots and earning a 6-0 decision over the Aztecs at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Madueno was two saves from equaling the program record for a match, which was set by Aubree Southwick at Oregon State on Sept. 19, 2010, who made 16 saves against the Beavers. The sophomore out of Woodland, Calif., he eclipsed her previous single-game high of nine stops, which she totaled at Saint Mary's on Thursday afternoon.
Stanford's 44 shot attempts are the most an Aztecs opponent has produced since Penn State got off 29 in a 3-0 win at San Diego State on Sept. 9, 2016.
Facing a Stanford (3-0-0) team that produced 29 shots and beat CSUN 7-0 on Thursday, the Aztecs attempted to pack the box against the No. 13 Cardinal, but in the end the Stanford firepower proved to be the difference.
The Cardinal produced the first 12 shots in the game, and on its 13th attempt its broke though. Off a cross in the 22nd minute, there was a scramble in front of the goal. Belle Briede was able to collect it and slot the ball past Madueno for a 1-0 lead.
Between that score and a tally with 20 seconds left prior to the intermission, Madueno stopped nine Cardinal shots, already a career-high in saves. The second Stanford goal, at the 44:40 mark, was off the foot of Andrea Kitahata and the teams went to halftime with the Cardinal leading 2-0. In the first 45 minutes, which was almost exclusively played in the Aztecs (1-3-0) half of the field, Sanford produced 25 shots while holding San Diego State without an attempt.
Kitahata scored at the 48:40 mark to extend the Stanford lead to 3-0 early in the second half. The Cardinal then added goals in the 72nd, 81st and 85th minutes for the 6-0 decision.
The Aztecs' most dangerous opportunity came in the 49th minute. Denise Castro, from the left side of the 18-yard box, played give and go with Sarah Funk, seven yards outside the top of the box. Funk's return pass to Castro was right on the mark. Castro one-timed it, but Sanford keeper Katie Meyer was up to the challenge.
Castro, a midfielder, led the side with two shots, both on frame. Emma Gaines-Ramos & Rachelle Elve, both strikers, took one shot each and both put their attempts on goal. Midfielder Laura Fuentes & forward Sarah Funk each took one shot.
THE NOTE
Alexa Madueno's 14 saves are a career-high and two off the program record.
NEXT UP
The Aztecs return to the Sports Deck for a pair of matches starting with Washington State on Thursday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
-SDSU-
Aztecs Downed 6-0 At No. 13 Stanford
