SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women’s soccer team (1-1) battled with No. 10 Washington (2-0) in its home opener on Wednesday night but came up on the short end of a 1-0 score.
For much of the first half, the teams locked each other down and mostly kept the ball near midfield. Kailey Carlen saved Washington’s lone shot on goal of the first half, taken by Andrea Levya at the 18-minute mark. Alexis Leath managed to get a shot on target in the 33rd minute but it was saved by Tanner Ijams. The teams headed into halftime each possessing the ball for half of the opening 45 minutes.
The offenses picked up in the second half. Carlen stopped a shot by Ryan Boehm just 4:02 after action resumed. In the 56th minute, Lily Boudet was issued a yellow card, one of five between the two teams in the second half. The Aztecs’ keeper stopped another shot in the 61st minute, her third of the night.
In the 67th minute, Charlie Gerson was called for a controversial foul in the box, setting up a penalty kick for Washington’s Jadyn Holdenried. She converted into the bottom left corner of the net to give the Huskies the lead. Before the Aztecs could kick off and resume play, Holdenried was given a yellow card for taunting.
Karoline Lundstrom nearly had the equalizer for SDSU five minutes later, but Ijams made the stop. Three minutes afterwards, Carlen responded with a save of her own on a shot by Samiah Shell. Leyva picked up UW’s second yellow card in the 82nd minute. The Aztecs pressured Ijams hard in the ensuing few minutes, but the Washington keeper stopped two shots on goal from Victoria Miller and another one from Leath to maintain the advantage. Mike Friesen was given a yellow card at 85:46, the last one of the match for either side and the Huskies survived by a 1-0 score.
The Aztecs finished the match with more shots (11-10) and fouls (14-13) while the Huskies had more corner kicks (4-3) and saves (5-4). Each team had five shots on goal and SDSU led in time of possession (52%-48%).
THE NOTE
San Diego State held Washington to the Aztecs’ fewest goals allowed in a match against an opponent ranked in the top ten since a 3-0 shutout win over No. 10 Michigan on August 31, 2014.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs will look to get back in the win column in another home match, this one against Portland State at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23. Early arriving fans will receive a free license plate frame. Admission is free and the match will be streamed on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.