LOGAN, Utah – The third-seeded San Diego State women’s soccer team (10-5-3, 4-2-2 Pac-12) was tripped up by second-seeded Boise State (15-2-2, 6-1-1 Pac-12) in the Pac-12 semifinals by a 2-0 score on Wednesday afternoon.
The Aztecs got the first offensive opportunity in the match with KK Chowana-Bandhu taking a shot to the bottom left corner of the goal 3:36 into the match but Boise State goalkeeper Ava de Leest made a diving save to her right. At the 19-minute mark, Katie Senn took a long free kick towards the goal that de Leest deflected up in the air and away. Kailey Carlen responded with a diving save of her own on a shot by Sophie Schmautz late in the 26th minute. Carlen reached down to save a low shot by Jillian Anderson in the 38th minute to preserve a 0-0 score heading into halftime.
Boise State quickly took the lead in the second half with a goal 3:17 after play resumed. Four minutes later, Carlen prevented the Broncos from adding on when she leaped to her left and punched away a shot by Delilah Woods. Victoria Miller tried to tie things up in the 58th but de Leest reached up and made the save. The Broncos scored again in the 61st minute when Madie Donovan headed in a corner kick by Anderson.
Late in the second half, the Aztecs turned up the pressure on de Leest with a number of good shots. Lily Boudet had a long shot saved in the 71st minute. Chowana-Bandhu fired towards the top of the net in the 77th minute but it was punched over the net for a save. Boudet had another shot that was saved five minutes later. Briahna Gieger’s shot with her left foot was saved by a diving de Leest midway through the 86th minute. A bouncing shot by Charlie Gerson from outside the box was saved a couple of minutes afterwards. Maya Stinson took the final shot, from long range in the final ten seconds of that match. It, too, was saved as Boise State held on 2-0 to advance to the Pac-12 championship match.
The Aztecs finished the match with more shots (17-11), shots on goal (9-5) and corner kicks (7-4). The Broncos had more saves (9-3) and fouls (12-6).