SAN DIEGO – San Diego State opened its 2023 season with a 2-0 win over Sacred Heart on Thursday night at the SDSU Sports Deck. The two goals were scored by Olivia Sekimoto in the first half and Denise Castro in the second.
The Aztecs controlled possession for much of the opening fifteen minutes and were rewarded for it. Transfer Kali Trevithick forced the first save of the night on SDSU's second shot of the game when she forced the Sacred Heart keeper into a save in the third minute when she fired a shot on frame.
San Diego State would continue to pile up the shots, before Sekimoto slotted home the squads first goal of the season in the 15th minute. After some nice buildup play down the left side of the Sacred Heart defense, 2022 Mountain West first-team selection Emma Gaines-Ramos, put in a low cross across the Pioneers box, and Sekimoto found a pocket of space to fire the ball into the back of the net to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead.
San Diego State would continue to look for a second goal in the first half, and almost did so in the 38th minute. After coming back from injury to make her first appearance in over nine months, Logan Nidy forced a spectacular save from Sacred Heart keeper, Kryan Thievon, to keep the match at 1-0 heading into the halftime break.
The second half featured much of the same as the Pioneers continued to sit back and allow the Aztecs to have the majority of the ball, and the Aztecs took advantage again. Just six minutes into the half Denise Castro doubled the Aztecs lead when she pounced on a ball that was loose in the box to give SDSU a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute.
It was a quiet night for keeper Alexa Madueno in goal, as the Pioneers were only able to get two shots off in the final half of play. Between Madueno and her two centerbacks in Grace Goins and Kiera Utush, the Aztecs locked down the Pioneers for the majority of the second half and did not allow a shot the final 18 minutes of the game, as San Diego State earned a 2-0 win.
Game Notes:
- Four Aztecs made their collegiate or San Diego State debut on Thursday. Boston Girman and Lily Boudet made their first collegiate appearances, while Kali Trevithick and Bekah Brooks made their SDSU debuts.
- With the shutout keeper Alexa Madueno now has 27 career shutouts, good for sixth all-time at SDSU. She is also now third all-time in career saves with 212.
- San Diego State improved to 15-7-1 at home in season openers.