SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women’s soccer team was back in action on Sunday following a 2-1 victory on Thursday over San Jose State. The Aztecs battled the Fresno State Bulldogs in Sunday’s match on the SDSU Sports Deck. Alexa Madueno held the Bulldogs scoreless for her program record 27th career shutout. SDSU had two goals in each half, scored by Kali Trevithick, Carlin Blake, Emma Gaines-Ramos and Denise Castro.
Both offenses came out firing early. Trevithick put a shot on goal early in the fifth minute for San Diego State (6-7-3, 4-2-2 Mountain West) but it was saved by Bulldog keeper Ashton Conley. A minute later, Fresno State (5-8-3, 0-6-2 MW) had a shot on goal a minute later, which was saved by Madueno. Late in the seventh minute, Gaines-Ramos picked up her team-leading fifth assist when she found Trevithick, who booted the ball into the net to take an early lead. The Aztecs kept up the pressure on the Fresno State defense as Dori Savage and Carlin Blake forced Conley to make two more saves in the 14th and 25th minutes, respectively.
The Bulldogs’ Kayla Scott was given a yellow card at the 29:15 mark. In the 41st minute, the Fresno State bench did not agree with a ruling by the referee, leading to some yelling. Fresno State head coach Brian Zwaschka was given a straight red card and Scott was given a red card as well while associate head coach Sean Steele picked up a yellow card.
Just seconds later, Logan Nidy drove to the right of the goal and passed back across to Carlin Blake, who found the back of the net to double the Aztecs lead to two. In the next minute, SDSU’s Trinity Coker and Alexyz Nakamoto were given yellow cards. Late in the 42nd minute, Madueno made another save, moving to her left, to keep Fresno State off the board heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Aztec defense prevented the Bulldogs from getting a shot on goal, but the SDSU attack was not done yet. In the 64th minute, Gaines-Ramos added a goal to go with her assist when she snuck a ball into the goal to extend the Aztecs’ total to three. Fresno State was given yet another yellow card a minute later, this time charged to Laura Mas Serra. Two minutes after the card, Denise Castro intercepted a pass in the box and shot the ball past Conley to bring the score to 4-0. To close out the match, Fresno State’s Tatiana Saunders was assessed a yellow card at the 82-minute mark.
San Diego State totaled more shots (16-8), shots on goal (7-2) and corner kicks (6-5) while Fresno State finished with more fouls (8-7) and saves (3-2).
Madueno had a pair of saves in the first half before her defense prevented a shot on goal in the second half. Her 386 career saves are a school record. She added another school record to her tally today as her 27th career shutout broke her tie with Aubree Southwick for that program record.
Trevithick continued her career dominance against Fresno State. In her only previous matchup against the Bulldogs on September 21, 2023, Trevithick scored twice in a 5-1 Aztec victory. Today’s score marked the first time she scored from the field this season. Trevithick’s other goal came on a penalty kick against No. 2 Stanford.
Blake’s goal marked her first two points of conference play this season. She totaled one goal and four assists in eight non-conference matches this season. This is the first time in Blake’s career that she has scored multiple goals in a season. Her three previous goals, all of which happened in home matches, came on September 22, 2024, vs. Utah Valley, October 19, 2023, vs. Wyoming and October 13, 2022, vs. Nevada.
The Aztecs’ assists leader, Gaines-Ramos is up to five goals and five assists this season through 15 matches. Those numbers are equal to her totals from last season in 19 matches. Her 15 points are just behind Castro’s 17 this season and well ahead of everyone else, including third-place Blake (8). Her three points today were a season-high and were her first since having points in three consecutive matches, from September 26 vs. Nevada to October 3 at Utah State.
The Aztecs’ team leader in goals and points in each of her four seasons on The Mesa, Castro eighth goal of the season marked her second time this season scoring in both matches of the week. She had three goals in SDSU’s first two matches of the conference season, winning her Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honors. Her 78 career points are fourth in program history and her 33rd goal moves Castro into a tie with Cat Walker for fourth most in school history.
Nidy has an assist in each of the three matches in which San Diego State had four or more goals this season. She has no assists when SDSU scores three times or fewer.
SDSU is in fifth place in the Mountain West with three matches to play. Six teams qualify for the conference tournament, held on the SDSU Sports Deck from November 3-9. Based on current standings, the Aztecs would face the UNLV Rebels, whom SDSU defeated 2-0 on September 29.
San Diego State travels to Laramie, Wyoming, to battle the Cowgirls at 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT on Thursday. SDSU will then return home to face Colorado State for Senior Day at noon on Sunday on the SDSU Sports Deck. Sunday’s match is free to attend and both matches will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.