PULLMAN, Wash. – San Diego State women's soccer dropped a nailbiter to No. 17 Washington State 2-1 on Thursday night at the Lower Soccer Field in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars scored two early goals before Denise Castro got on the score sheet for the Aztecs.
Washington State (5-0-0) scored two early goals to race out to a 2-0 lead over the Aztecs (2-2-1) in the first five minutes. The Cougars opened the scoring off a corner in the third minute before doubling their tally in the fifth minute off a strike from just outside the box.
San Diego State would settle in after that and tested the Washington State keeper in the 19th minute. Off a corner Olivia Sekimoto had her effort saved, but the Aztecs continued to ask questions of the WSU backline and keeper. Later in the half Alexa Madueno made a huge stop in the 32nd minute to keep the match at 2-0 when she dove to her right and got a strong palm to the ball and tipped it over the goal. Substitute Logan Nidy almost got the Aztecs on the board in the 40th minute, but her effort was well saved by the Washington State keeper and the Aztecs went into the halftime break down 2-0.
The second half was very different for the Aztecs as they controlled the pace and kept the Cougars from possessing the ball for much of the half. To begin the second half the Aztecs had a goal retracted for an offside call. Kiera Utush got on the end of a cross but was ruled offside when the ball was played, and the Aztecs still trailed 2-0. SDSU then threatened again in the 57th minute when Kali Trevithick played in Dori Savage, but her shot was paired away by the Cougars keeper.
SDSU's sustained pressure would finally pay off with a goal in the 72nd minute. After Emma Gaines-Ramose lifted a ball into the box the Washington State keeper misplayed the ball and it fell to Denise Castro who poked the ball home to make it a 2-1 game.
It would be a frantic finish from there as the Cougars almost went two goals up again in the 76th minute, but Grace Goins and Katie Senn made back-to-back goal line clearances to keep the Aztecs down just the one goal. SDSU would continue to be on the front foot for the remainder of the half but could not add another to tie the match and Washington State earned a 2-1 win on Thursday evening in Pullman.
In the stats column, Madueno made six saves on the night while Castro led the offensive with two shots and a goal. The goal was Castro's 17th career goal.
Up Next: San Diego State concludes its pacific northwest road trip at Eastern Washington on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon PT from Cheney, Washington.
Aztecs Fall at #17 Washington State, 2-1
