LOGAN, UTAH – After 5-0 and 2-0 wins over Nevada and UNLV in last week’s first week of conference action, the first-place San Diego State women’s soccer team looked to build on that momentum on Thursday at No. 12 Utah State. Alexa Madueno tallied a season-high ten saves, but an Emma Gaines-Ramos penalty kick in the 89th minute was the only scoring SDSU could muster in a 5-1 defeat at the highly ranked Aggies.
The Aggie (11-0-2) offense came out firing, with Madueno making her first save in just the second minute of the match. Denise Castro was able to get a shot on frame in the 11th minute to force a save by Utah State keeper Cora Brendle. After another Madueno save in the 14th minute, USU’s Mia Mullenmeister was able to get one by the Aztec (4-6-1) keeper eight minutes later, on a pass from Tess Werts. Madueno made another save in the 27th minute. After Brooklyn Smith scored on a pass from Whitney Lopez to make it a 2-0 match, Madueno was able to keep the Aggies off the board for the rest of the half, making a save in the 38th minute.
Early in the second half, a relentless Utah State attack fired five shots on goal over a minute and change, but Madueno was able to stop all the shots and hold the deficit at two. Following another Madueno save in the 58th minute. Utah State extended its lead on another Smith goal a minute later. Just seconds afterwards, USU’s Alex Day was given a yellow card for time wasting. Werts had a goal of her own on an assist from Kate Christian in the 64th minute to make it a four-goal match, equaling the largest deficit faced this season by SDSU.
In the 70th minute, Carlin Blake logged the Aztecs’ second shot on goal of the match, forcing another save by Brendle. After the Aggies subbed in their reserves, Presley Ray tacked on yet another USU goal with assists by Rachel Reitz and Kayla Sato in the 84th minute.
Shortly after Ray was assessed a yellow card in the 88th minute, San Diego State had a good chance to end the shutout when Addy Weichers was called for a handball in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Gaines-Ramos converted to the bottom left corner of the goal to get San Diego State on the board, but the Aztecs could not complete the comeback, falling 5-1.
San Diego State finished the match with more saves (10-2) and Utah State had more shots (26-8), shots on goal (15-3), fouls (7-2) and corner kicks (7-3).
Madueno’s season-high ten saves extended her program record career tally to 366. She will keep looking to tie the program shutouts record in the Aztecs’ next match. Madueno’s 25 shutouts trail Melanie Vaughn (25.5) and Aubree Southwick (26).
Gaines-Ramos scored her fourth overall goal of the season and her second on the road in just two road matches for the Aztecs.
San Diego State is on the road for its next three matches. SDSU plays at Boise State on Sunday before going to Colorado College on October 10 and Air Force on October 13.