COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State women's soccer (4-3-5, 2-1-1 MW) earned a hard fought 2-1 win over Air Force (4-5-2, 1-2-1 MW) on Sunday afternoon. Denise Castro scored a bullet header in the 65th minute to give SDSU the win.
The match started off with both teams looking to stretch the field, as the two sides totaled seven shots in the opening 12 minutes of the match. SDSU had a corner in the seventh minute and after Carlin Blake whipped in the cross, the ensuing shot was cleared off the line by the Cadets. Five minutes later the Aztecs early pressure would pay off, courtesy of Rachelle Elve, who was assisted by Emma Gaines-Ramos. Gaines-Ramos picked up the ball at the halfway line, before playing in Elve from the wing who slotted a right-footed shot into the back of the net to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. The lead would last 15 minutes as the Cadets equalized in the 27th minute off a corner. The ball was played in, and Caeli Sherman of the Cadets pounced on it. Her shot ricocheted off Alexa Madueno in the Aztecs goal and then off of Logan Nidy who was stationed at the far post to trickle into the net to tie the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.
After the halftime break, Denise Castro had the best chance of the first 15 minutes of the second half. After playing a ball down the right side from Gaines-Ramos, Castro picked up the ball and rounded the keeper but her shot hit the side netting. She would redeem herself five minutes later, and gave the Aztecs a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute. Gaines-Ramos was provider again for the Aztecs as her inch-perfect cross from right by the corner flag found the head of Castro perfectly, who then headed the ball past the outstretched arms of the Cadets keeper to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead. San Diego State would hold on as the Cadets looked for an equalizer, and Madueno got a strong right hand to their best effort of the second half in the 82nd minute when she dove to her right to make the stop and preserve the 2-1 win.
Offensively, Gaines-Ramos had two assists in the match for the second consecutive match, as she was the provider on both of SDSU's goals. In goal for the Aztecs Madueno made seven saves, her second most of the season, to help the Aztecs earn the win.
The Stat: Denise Castro headed home her team-high seventh goal of the season on Sunday
The Stat II: Emma Gaines-Ramos had two assists, and has now brought her tally to six total for the season.
Up Next: The Aztecs return home to face San Jose State at Snapdragon Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are as low as $10, and parking is free.
-SDSU-
Aztecs Down Air Force 2-1
