SAN DIEGO – In her final game on the SDSU Sports Deck, senior striker Taylor Moorehead scored with just over three minutes to play in regulation against the New Mexico Lobos. Her goal tied the score at 2-2 and sent the game, which ultimately ended in a draw, into overtime. San Diego State had qualified for the Mountain West tournament earlier in the day, but secured the No. 3 seed with its draw against New Mexico.
Down 0-2 after 45 minutes, on a goal from outside the box and a controversial penalty which resulted in a converted penalty kick, the Aztecs battled back and picked up some goal scoring momentum in the 53rd minute.
Anna Toohey picked up the ball deep in the Aztecs end of the field. She saw Emma Gaines-Ramos sprinting down the far sideline and played a perfect long pass across the field. Gaines-Ramos ran right onto it, took one touch and just flipped the ball over the leg of the Lobo keeper and halved the New Mexico lead, 2-1. It was the second goal of the year for Gaines-Ramos and added to Toohey's team leading assist total, which now stands at four.
The score remained 2-1 into the 87th minute.
Off a corner, Aztec Jessica Sanders got a shot off which was blocked by the defense. In the scramble for the loose ball, Moorehead pounced and hammered a shot from inside the six. It ricocheted off the inside of the New Mexico keeper's leg and in for the tying goal. It was Moorehead's first goal of the campaign and her first since a 3-2 decision against Fresno State on Nov. 7, 2019.
The Aztecs were the more dangerous team throughout the game and that trend continued into the overtime periods.
In the 94th minute, Malia Kaleiohi, also playing the final regular season game of her college career, played the ball across the goal and just out of the reach of several players, but in the scramble for the loose ball Gaines-Ramos found it and shot it into the top corner, but the New Mexico keeper made the save.
Then with 15 seconds left in the same overtime period, Moorehead got the ball, drove to the goal and fired a shot low to her left. The attempt was saved, but not smothered. It came away from the line and Alexys Ocampo had a shot but pushed it high over the crossbar.
Neither team scored in the second overtime, mostly due to Aztec keeper Cameron Illingworth, who had five saves on the night, but none more important than one in the 103rd minute. Lobo Zaria Katesigwa split the Aztec defense and was in one-on-one against Illingworth, who came charging off her line and from 15 yards out deflected a point-blank shot over the end line to keep the game tied.
For the game, San Diego State outshot New Mexico 21-to-17, including 10-to-7 in shots on goal.
Gaines-Ramos led the Aztec attack with four shots and a goal. Denise Castro and Trinity Coker produced three shots while Laura Fuentes, Moorehead and Toohey took a pair of shots each. Kiera Utush, Sarah Funk, Ocampo, Sanders and Olivia Sekimoto attempted a shot apiece.
New Mexico's Jadyn Edwards led all players with six shot attempts and keeper Emily Johnson made eight saves.
THE NOTE
San Diego State has qualified for the Mountain West tournament for the 21st time in the 22 years the event has been contested.
NEXT UP
San Diego State is the No. 3-seed in next week's Mountain West tournament and will play the host Boise State Broncos, the No. 6-seed, on Monday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. MT.
Aztecs Erase A 0-2 Deficit In A 2-2 Draw Against UNM
