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Aztecs lose on an own goal in the 77th minute
Source: goaztecs.com press release
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
September 18, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State closed its non-conference schedule on Sunday night with a 1-0 loss to No. 24/23 Texas Tech at SDSU Sports Deck. The difference maker was an own goal, which snapped the Aztecs’ two-game winning streak and dropped them to 2-5. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, improved to 7-1-2.
“I’m really excited about the performance the team had tonight in terms of the quality of soccer on both sides,” head coach Mike Friesen said. “Defensively, we were really good at taking care of the priorities in the middle of the field. It’s the best team performance we’ve had to date. I also thought we did a nice job on the ball. We had some really nice combination plays and some good creative movement in the final third. I thought we also kept the ball very well throughout the game.
“We had plenty of chances to get the equalizer, which was unfortunate to be down a goal on an own goal,” Friesen added. “But it says a lot about the effort and the intensity we’re playing at that creates an opportunity to score an own goal.”
The aforementioned own goal came as the game was entering its final stages. SDSU was whistled for a foul, giving Texas Tech a free kick. The 77th-minute service entered a scrum in the box and was deflected off an Aztec and into the net in an attempt to clear the ball.
Down 1-0, San Diego State was the beneficiary of a second yellow card to Red Raider Meagan McCullough, which put Texas Tech down a player for the final 13:25. Playing with an advantage, the Aztecs continued to apply pressure as they had all night.
In the 83rd minute, SDSU nearly leveled the score when it received single shots from Stacie Moran, Milan Moses and Xochi Hunter in a 21-second span. The first two strikes were blocked and the final attempt was stopped by TTU goalkeeper Lauren Watson.
Then with roughly 15 seconds left, the Red Raiders were called for a foul and Victoria Barba quickly put the ball in play to Aliyah Utush, who forced Watson to make a clutch save. Then on the rebound, Moran just missed the equalizer as her shot went off the crossbar. The final three seconds then came off the clock allowing Texas Tech to escape with the victory.
In the first half, San Diego State’s ball movement was a preview of things to come. The Aztecs connected on numerous passes leading to scoring chances, including Hedda Regefalk’s blast that clanked off the right post in the sixth minute and Utush’s shot from five yards out off a well-placed service from Victoria Barba.
Defensively, SDSU was strong once again as it has not allowed an opponent to score in the last 304 minutes, 21 seconds. Goalkeeper Gabby English was not tested all game, even though a 10th-minute shot by Tatum Barton hit the crossbar, and finished with two saves.
The Aztecs finished with an advantage in shots (13-7) and shots on goal (5-3), and are averaging 16.0 shots per game over their last three outings. In their first four games of 2016, they only averaged 7.5 shots per game.
Utush led all players with three shots and tied Hunter with a game-high two shots on goal.
San Diego State now opens Mountain West action as the favorites to claim the regular-season title, something it has done four straight years. The Aztecs were picked to win the league back in August when the league released its preseason coaches’ poll.
“We’re really excited about where the team is, how far we’ve come in the last month and excited to open the next chapter in conference play,” Friesen said. “I feel like we’re in a really good spot and very confident about where we are.”
The MW opener for San Diego State comes on Friday when Air Force visits SDSU Sports Deck. The 7 p.m. PT game will stream live on GoAztecs.com via the Mountain West Network and admission is free.
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