SAN DIEGO – San Diego State generated season-highs in shots and shots on goal, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory as the women's soccer team fell to Long Beach State 2-1 on Sunday night at the SDSU Sports Deck.
The Aztecs (1-5-0) produced 19 shots and put seven on frame, including an 83rd minute goal from freshman Denise Castro to cut a two-goal deficit in half, but time ran out on San Diego State, which lost its fifth game in a row, its longest slide since the 2001 season.
The 19 shots, the most since the season opener in which San Diego State attempted 15, were more than the team had produced in its last four games combined (18). Malia Kaleiohi and Hope Paredes led the charge with four shots each. Sarah Funk took three shots, while Castro, Kiera Utush and Trinity Coker each produced two shots. Lauren Dicus and Taylor Moorehead attempted a shot a piece.
The Aztecs came out on fire. They dominated the run of play for the majority of the first half and outshot Long Beach State 8-to-2 in the first 45 minutes. But a hard tackle in the box by Utush in the 36th minute, generated a yellow card for San Diego State and penalty kick for the Beach (3-2-0). Lena Silano took the PK and slotted it low to Alexa Madueno's left to give Long Beach State a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, the Aztecs continued to produce more and better chances, outshooting Long Beach State 11-to-6, but were unable to convert them into goals for more than 35 minutes.
In the 60th minute, Long Beach State got what would turn out to be the game winner off a corner. Kaylee Ramirez played the ball to the far post where Silano headed back across the goal and in for a 2-0 advantage.
The Aztecs finally broke through at the 82:06 mark, ending a scoreless streak of 318:29 dating back to Castro's goal at Saint Mary's on August 26. The freshman from San Ysidro, Calif, picked up a loose ball at the top of the box and hammered a shot into the upper right corner for her second goal of the year.
Alexa Madueno, who entered the game leading the nation in saves (41), had a relatively quiet night totaling three stops, well below her 8.2 saves per game entering the contest.
THE NOTE
Denise Castro's 83rd minute goal snapped a scoreless streak of more than three games (318:29).
NEXT UP
The Aztecs will try to put a stop to their current slide on Friday, Sept. 10 at San Diego. Kickoff is scheduled for 7p.m. PT.
-SDSU-
Castro Scores But Aztecs Come Up Short
