SAN DIEGO – San Diego State women's soccer (3-3-4, 1-1-0 MW) earned a gritty 2-1 win over Wyoming (1-4-4, 0-1-1 MW) on the SDSU SportsDeck on Sunday afternoon. Kiera Utush gave the Aztecs the win, scoring the game-winning goal in the 80th minute.
With the scored tied at 1-1, the Aztecs had a breakaway down the left side courtesy of some combination play between Emma Gaines-Ramos and Denise Castro. Castro then played Gaines-Ramos through on goal, and after her shot was blocked and bounced around the 18-yard box off of a few different defenders, the ball fell to Utush just outside the box. The senior then unleashed a right-footed strike that rocketed into the back of the net to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute. The goal was Utush's second of the season, and her second career game-winning goal.
Prior to Utush's goal, the Aztecs were on the front foot for the majority of the match. San Diego State outshot Wyoming 25-14, as well as 24-3 in shots on goal. The pressure paid off for SDSU early on in the match in the 11th minute. Off a Wyoming turnover Rachelle Elva dribbled through the Wyoming defense, and slotted the ball across the box to Gaines-Ramos, who fired a shot into the back of the net to give San Diego State a 1-0 lead. The Aztecs would take the 1-0 lead into the halftime break, outshooting the Cowgirls 12-8 in the first half in the process.
In the second half, Wyoming were the ones who came out firing, and were able to tie the match in the 59th minute. Alyssa Bedard scored her third goal of the season off of a cross into the box from Maddie Chance to even the score at 1-1 with just over 30 minutes to play. Utush would then lead the Aztecs to the win, scoring her second goal of the campaign to give SDSU the 2-1 win in the 80th minute.
San Diego State outshot Wyoming 13-2 in the second half, while Alexa Madueno in goal for SDSU had two saves on Sunday.
Up Next: The Aztecs hit the road to face Colorado College on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT and the Air Force Academy on Sunday at noon PT.
The Stat: Kiera Utush scored her second career game-winning goal on Sunday. Her first career game-winner came back on November 7, 2019.
Aztecs Down Wyoming 2-1
