SAN DIEGO – Dori Savage scored in the 90th minute to earn the Aztecs a 1-1 draw on Thursday night at the SDSU Sports Deck. The goal was Savage's third goal in her last two matches.
With the clocking ticking down, the Aztecs (2-0-1) launched forward in the final minute of play searching for the equalizing goal. Sophomore Alexys Ocampo picked up the ball with 45 seconds left in the game, dribbled past one defender, touched the ball through the legs of a second defender and played the ball across the face of goal. Savage read the play well and shook loose from her defender, and then fired the ball from six yards out into the top right corner of the goal to put the Aztecs on level terms with Pepperdine (0-0-3).
Earlier in the match it looked like Pepperdine was going to take the lead in the first half, but thanks to some great goalkeeping by Alexa Madueno in net for the Aztecs, the Waves were kept off the board in the opening half. Pepperdine tallied 11 shots to the Aztecs three in the first half, as the teams entered their locker rooms tied at 0-0.
In the second half the Aztecs fought their way back into the game. However, against the run of play, it was Pepperdine who took the lead in the 61st minute. Julia Quinonez picked up the ball near the corner flag and then sent in a shot that trickled into the Aztecs goal to give Pepperdine a 1-0 advantage. But after that it was all Aztecs, as SDSU had nine of their 16 shots on the day come after Pepperdine opened the scoring.
Emma Gaines-Ramos, Carlin Blake, and Denise Castro all had their shots saved in the final 25 minutes of play before Savage rescued a point for the Aztecs in the 90th minute. The sophomore now has three goals on the year to lead the team.
Game Notes:
- Dori Savage recorded her third goal in two games on Thursday.
- Savage's three goals have all come off the bench in 2023.
- Savage's three goals have come in a total of 125 minutes of action.
- Alexys Ocampo's assist in the 90th minute was her team-leading second assist of the season.
- SDSU earned a result against Pepperdine for the first time since 2012.
- SDSU is now 3-9-1 all-time against Pepperdine.
Up Next: The Aztecs continue their homestand on Sunday when they take on Long Beach State at 7 p.m. PT.