SAN DIEGO –San Diego State women's soccer continued their three match homestand with a 2-2 draw on Sunday night against the visiting UC San Diego Tritons on the Sports Deck. Goals from Logan Nidy and a penalty from Kiera Utush earned the Aztecs the draw.
For most of the first half neither San Diego State (2-1-3) nor UC San Diego (1-3-1) were able to muster many chances on target. UC San Diego had a few shots that were on frame but were relatively routine for the Aztecs keeper, Alexa Madueno. The Aztecs thought they had the opening goal in the 14th minute when Logan Nidy was through on goal, and slotted the ball into the corner of the net, only for the goal to be ruled offsides. Against the run of play UCSD would take the lead in the 39th minute just before halftime when Talisa Lin lifted a ball into the box that Ashlynn Kolarik got her head to and nodded it home to give the Tritons a 1-0 advantage heading into the halftime.
The Aztecs would come out firing in the second half. Both Claire Watkins and Nidy had shots saved in the opening five minutes of the half as the Aztecs searched for the equalizing goal. Watkins thought she had equalized for SDSU at the 53:06 mark, but her shot hit the woodwork for the third time in the past two matches and went back into play. However, 41 seconds later Nidy found herself in space in the box, and Trinity Coker picked up the ball on the left flank and sent a cross into the box that Nidy connected with and headed into the top-left corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was Nidy's second of the season.
The Aztecs would not be tied for long. 44 seconds later at the 54:31 mark the Aztecs were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box by the UCSD keeper. Rachelle Elve was brought down in the box off a through ball from Carlin Blake, and in the ensuing tangle of legs the Tritons keeper grabbed Elve's leg and tripped her, earning the Aztecs a penalty. Kiera Utush stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.
San Diego State would keep peppering the Triton keeper throughout the half as they had a total of 11 shots in the second half compared to UCSD's five. However, in 89th minute the Triton's floated a ball into the box that came off Madueno's fingertips and fell to Kennedy Carter who brought the match level at 2-2, which is what the match would finish at.
The Stat: Kiera Utush converted her first penalty of the season on Sunday, and it was the first penalty scored by the Aztecs this season.
Up Next: The Aztecs finish their three-game homestand with a match against Saint Mary's on Friday at 4 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Draw With UC San Diego 2-2
