Aztecs Win MW Championship; Defeat Air Force
The No. 6/13/7 San Diego State women's soccer team clinched the 2012 Mountain West regular season championship on Sunday afternoon by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Air Force at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs are now 16-1-1 and 6-0 in MW play, which marks the best record through 18 games in program history (15-2-1 in 1998).
"I couldn't be happier for the whole group to accomplish the first of our many goals, which is to win the Mountain West regular season championship," head coach Mike Friesen said. "We have several more to go. We want to go undefeated in the Mountain West, we want to win the Mountain West Tournament and we want to go as far as we can in the NCAA Tournament."
This regular season title is the second MW championship for SDSU (2009 MW Tournament champions) and it marks the fourth overall league crown in school history. The Aztecs were Western Athletic Conference champions during the 1995 and '98 seasons. SDSU's 16 wins in 2012 are now the most in a season during Friesen's tenure on Montezuma Mesa, surpassing the 15 victories amassed by the 2009 MW Tournament championship squad.
In the contest on Sunday, the Aztecs wasted little time as they tallied the game-winner at the 2:24 mark on a goal by sophomore Hannah Keane. Keane then notched another goal in the 21st minute and senior Megan Jurado wrapped up the scoring for SDSU with her 13th goal of the season less than a minute later.
The Aztecs started fast against Air Force and never looked back. Keane tallied the first attempt of the game at the 1:26 mark and then used assists from redshirt senior Tiffany Hurst and sophomore Haley Locker to connect on a great shot in front of the net about a minute later.
SDSU appeared even more in control on Sunday than it did on Friday as it continued to fire a number of attempts at goalkeeper Kelly Stambaugh. The Aztecs then connected on their 11th shot of the contest to increase the lead to 2-0 on Keane's second goal of the day. Sophomore Kelsey Booth and Hurst were credited with assists on the score.
After substitutions by both teams, San Diego State found another opening in the defense as Jurado took a pass from freshmanVictoria Barba and connected cross cage to give her team a comfortable 3-0 advantage. At the half, the Aztecs held a 17-2 advantage in shots (9-0 in shots on goal) and were just 45 minutes away from the MW regular season crown.
In the second half, SDSU continued its offensive onslaught and kept up the intensity as it tallied 14 more shots (5 on net) en route to victory.
Of the 21 players who saw action in the game, 14 Aztecs notched at least one attempt. Leading the group was Keane as she had five shots, including three on goal and one assist in 47 minutes of action.
At the end of the afternoon, the Aztecs outshot the Falcons by a 31-6 margin (15-3 in shots on goal), won the corner kick battle (9-2) as well as the possession battle (69-31). Redshirt sophomore Rachel Boaz played 45 minutes in goal and picked up her 16th win of the season.
The Aztecs wrap up Mountain West play next Friday as they welcome New Mexico for Senior Day. The conference showdown is set for a 7 p.m. PT start at SDSU Sports Deck.
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