By Jose Trujillo (@jAy_Ay_T):
The San Jose State women’s soccer team (12-5-1, 9-1-1 MW) ended conference play on a high note after defeating rival Fresno State (10-6-3, 5-4-2 MW) 1-0 on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Spartans set the school record for most conference wins in season (9), topping the 2015 that won the Mountain West Tournament.
What has already been a memorable week, as the team was presented with the Mountain West regular season trophy on Tuesday, kept going. Balloons, family, friends and flowers greeted several players on the on the field for senior day. It got very emotional for the team as six Spartans played their final game at Spartan Soccer Complex.
The beginning of the game saw the ball stay in the middle of the pitch as no team could take control. It became an evenly played physical defensive stalemate. Both teams finished the half with three shots and 1 combined corner kick.
While the pre-game emotions carried into the game, that was not all that factored in the team’s slow start. Along with the hot weather, the Bulldogs came ready to shut down the Spartans attack.
“Any senior day is emotional and they all started so it’s an emotional day for them [seniors], when that happens emotions can run really high or low,” Hanson said, “but I think the heat played into this one… and it just was one of those games where it’s not a fast tempo game per team we were playing too, they were very organized, played defensive minded. It’s hard to break them down and get around them.”
The Spartans just couldn’t find a way to get into to rhythm offensively.
“It was a really rough game, we were trying to bring the ball down, and keep the ball and do little passes to each other, but we ended playing a lot of long ball, and that just tired us out,” said senior defender Myia Wilkes.
Well, whatever Hanson told the team at halftime did work.
The Spartans came out in the second half with much more intensity. While the flow of the game remained the same, the team dominated with ball possession, physicality and timely shots.
None more important than the one that came in the 81st minute.
Sophomore defender Kristen Amarikwa ran into the box and tipped it to freshman defender Lauola Amanoni who drove it over the goalkeeper for the game’s only score.
“Kristen had the ball, and she was dribbling inside the middle box, and she passed inside two players, then I touched it with my left foot, I touched it again, and it went in.” Amanoni said.
San Jose State goalkeeper Paige Simoneau finished with 6 saves, none more impressive than a diving save during a Fresno State attack at the 54th minute. Simoneau also earned her 11th win and recorded her seventh shutout of the season, tying a school record.
It was a great way to end the regular season for the Spartans, but now it gets even more important. It’s win or go home time.
Off to Las Vegas they go as the Mountain West playoffs start on Tuesday. With a first-round bye, the Spartans do not have a match until Thursday and will look to take advantage of the extra rest, but will not focus on who wins or loses in the opening round.
“You hope to use that to your advantage, we are going to take a couple days off and rest some bodies.” Hanson said. “We are going to get right and ready and fully prepared for Thursday, we are not going to concentrate on other teams, we always concentrate on ourselves and on what we do well. You come beat us.”