San Diego State secured the second seed in next week’s Mountain West Championship after it defeated UNLV, 2-1, in double overtime at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas Friday afternoon. The Aztecs up their record to 10-6-3 and finish league play with a 4-1-1 record. The Rebels, meanwhile, fall to 7-9-3 and 3-2-1 in the MW.

 

“I’m really proud of the way we fought this afternoon,” head coach Mike Friesen said. “We’re playing well right now and it is nice to head into the conference tournament on a high note.”

 

The victory is SDSU’s third straight, which is a season long, and is the school’s fifth consecutive road win. The road winning streak is the program’s longest since its MW championship season in 2009.

 

The Aztecs posted their second 10-win season in the last three seasons thanks to Cat Walker’s third penalty kick goal of 2011. Prior to Walker’s game-winning goal, Megan Jurado beat two UNLV defenders and was taken down in the box, which led to Walker’s PK.

 

The goal was Walker’s team-best ninth of the season and third in conference action. It was also her fifth game-winning goal of the campaign and her third vs. Mountain West foes.

 

SDSU delivered the first punch in a battle between two teams that entered the regular-season finale in two-way tie for second place. In the 26^th minute, Sarah Halverson connected with Sophie Metz, who blasted a high shot from 25 yards out that found the top right corner past the UNLV keeper. The goal was Metz’s third of the campaign and the assist was Halverson’s first of the year.

 

The Aztecs carried a 1-0 lead into halftime and appeared to be in control as time ticked off the clock in the second half. The game, however, turned in the 79^th minute when Katherine Orellana took a pass from Jackie Tillotson, drove through the defense and successfully converted her shot from the right side to knot the score at 1-1.

 

Regulation ended in a draw as did the first 10 minutes of overtime. Then just 3 minutes, 9 seconds into the second overtime period, Jurado was taken down and all eyes focused on Walker as she sent the Aztecs home with the win.

 

SDSU enjoyed a 16-11 advantage in shots and a 4-3 lead in corner kicks. Both teams attempted seven shots on goal.

 

Defensively, Aztec keeper Rachel Boaz made a game-high six saves, while her counterpart, Kylie Wassell, had five.

 

San Diego State finished the conference season by allowing a league-low two goals and posting a Mountain West-best four shutouts.

 

With second place locked up, the Aztecs will receive a bye into the semifinal round of next week’s MW Championship in Albuquerque, N.M. SDSU will face the winner of the No. 3 seed-No. 6 seed quarterfinal match-up on Friday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on The Mtn.

 

San Diego State will also play host to the 2012 MW Championship next season as a result of finishing in second place. It will mark the second time in three seasons in which the Aztecs will welcome the league’s women’s soccer teams to Montezuma Mesa.