PHOENIX – The San Diego State women’s soccer team opened its 2025 conference season at Grand Canyon on Thursday night and moved into a tie atop the Mountain West standings with a 2-1 win over the Lopes.
Alexys Ocampo put the first shot on target for San Diego State (5-2-2, 1-0-0 MW) in the tenth minute, but it was saved by Grand Canyon (5-4-0, 0-1-0 MW) keeper Emma Knack.
Kailey Carlen logged her first save on a shot by Madison Hamm just ahead of the 16-minute mark. While it was Carlen’s first save statistically, she also knocked the ball away in a one-on-one opportunity a few minutes earlier.
Aztecs leading scorer Victoria Miller had a pair of nice shots in the 26th minute but Kennedy Chambers saved one and the other ricocheted off Samantha Amato.
Ocampo forced another diving save by Knack in the 31st minute from a deep attempt outside the box. Four minutes later, Briahna Gieger put a shot towards the bottom of the net that was also saved by Knack. Mia Lane put another shot on goal for the Aztecs on a free kick in the waning minutes of the first half, but Knack stopped it yet again to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.
Grand Canyon broke the tie late in the 51st minute on a goal by Tatum Hofstetter past a diving Carlen with an assist from Ellie Johannes.
Four minutes later, Miller tried to even the score at one, but her shot was saved by Knack. Alexis Leath got past the defense in the 59th minute but could not get it past the goalie’s outstretched hands. Mia Lane was the next Aztec to put a shot on goal that was saved, this time coming in the 65th minute.
In the 68th minute, the Aztecs finally broke through when Emma Fuller’s shot got just under the crossbar to tie the match at one. Mia Lane and Alexys Ocampo passed the ball to Fuller. Three minutes later, SDSU got another prime scoring opportunity when Mia Lane was fouled in the box, giving her a penalty kick. She converted, sending the ball past Knack to put the Aztecs on top.
Carlen picked up her second save of the night in the 74th minute on a shot by Johannes.
Lane looked to add her second goal five minutes afterwards but the shot on goal was saved to keep the lead at one.
In the 84th minute, Grand Canyon’s coach Blake Reynolds was issued a yellow card and player AJ Loera was given one seconds afterwards.
Carlen made a leaping save in the 89th minute to preserve the 2-1 lead and a yellow card against Miller was not enough for GCU to get by the Aztecs’ defense as SDSU completed the victory.
The Aztecs finished the match with more shots (22-18), shots on goal (11-4), corner kicks (4-3) and fouls (18-12) while Grand Canyon had more saves (8-3).
THE NOTE I
The win was the 200th of Mike Friesen’s career. He is now 200-124-52 through his first 376 career matches.
THE NOTE II
Emma Fuller’s goal was the first of her collegiate career and marked her first points since her only career assist at Eastern Washington on September 3, 2023.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs open their home conference slate against Colorado College at noon on Sunday. The match will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and admission is free on the SDSU Sports Deck.