SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women’s soccer team (2-1) defeated Portland State (0-4) by a 1-0 score on a hot Sunday afternoon on the SDSU Sports Deck.
Despite a temperature of 96 degrees at kickoff, the San Diego State attack got off on the front foot as KK Chowana-Bandhu had her first collegiate shot on goal in the fourth minute, but it was saved by Finley Crabtree. Midway through the tenth minute, Kenny Moore fired from outside the box with her left foot and rocketed the ball past Crabtree into the bottom right corner of the net to get the Aztecs on the board. Chowana-Bandhu and Victoria Miller each tried to extend the lead but their shots in the 15th and 17th minutes were saved.
The Vikings’ Wynn Farrell was given a yellow card in the 22nd minute. Kailey Carlen preserved the shutout late in the first half, saving Aliayha Saldana’s shot in the 38th minute, the only shot the Vikings would be able to put on target on Sunday.
Portland State’s Alexi Cataldi was given a yellow card less than ten minutes into the second half. Alexis Leath forced Crabtree to make yet another save in the 64th minute followed by Emma Fuller putting a shot on goal in the 73rd minute. Leath had her second shot on goal of the half in the 82nd minute, causing Crabtree’s sixth save. Katie Senn was issued a yellow card in the final minute as the Aztecs closed out the match, winning 1-0.
The Aztecs finished the match with more shots (20-7), shots on goal (7-1) and corner kicks (7-3) while the Vikings had more fouls (16-9) and saves (6-1). SDSU also possessed the ball for longer (59%-41%).
THE NOTE I
San Diego State goalkeeper Kailey Carlen lowered her career goals against average to 1.08 with the shutout, moving into a tie with Lorena Snyder for the fifth-best career mark in program history among qualified goalies.
THE NOTE II
Freshman KK Chowana-Bandhu made the first start of her college career and attempted five shots with two on goal after taking one shot in two matches off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs wrap up this early season homestand with a match against Pacific on Thursday scheduled to start around 7:30 p.m. Early arriving fans will receive a free SDSU cream and scarlet hat. Admission is free and the match will be streamed on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.