Cat Walker’s goal in the 18^th minute, combined with a strong defensive effort, was all San Diego State needed in defeating Columbia, 1-0, Friday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The win propels the Aztecs to 4-2-1 on the season, while the Lions fall to 0-3.

                                  

SDSU controlled the pace from wire-to-wire despite Columbia notching the first two shots of the game, both of which were headers that sailed high in the seventh minute.

 

The Aztecs tallied their first shot in the ninth minute after Jensen Skinner took a corner kick. Megan Jurado put her shot on goal only to have Lions goalkeeper Lillian Klein make the save.

 

Over four minutes later, Columbia threatened to take the early lead as it was in the attacking third. Following multiple passes, one found Coleen Rizzo, who headed the ball and hit the crossbar.

 

After dodging the near goal, the Aztecs continued to press on and were rewarded with a corner kick. Tiffany Hurst started the sequence that eventually led to Marisa Fraticelli’s header, which was blocked. The rebound was corralled by Columbia and the Lions player, who was looking to clear it, banged it off of Walker, who stopped it from going out past the endline and curled her shot in from eight yards out from the left side. The goal was her team-best fifth of 2011.

 

Sarah Halverson almost made it a 2-0 game in the 39^th minute. Brand new to the game as she entered in the 36^th minute, the forward boomed a shot from the left side of the pitch that required Klein to dive to her right to stop the attempt from rattling the back of the cage.

 

Just as Halverson nearly gave SDSU a two-goal cushion, Columbia’s Ashlin Yahr came just as close to knotting the score at 1-1. The forward had a clear look and San Diego State goalkeeper Rachel Boaz came out to contest her. As Boaz approached Yahr, she stumbled, but still was balanced enough to make the spectacular save to preserve the home side’s lead as the contest moved to halftime.

 

In the second half, SDSU continued to put shots on goal starting with Mariah Helmer just 50 seconds into the frame. Klein made the save on the freshman’s attempt and stopped Megan Jurado’s shot in the 54^th minute, Walker’s try in the 60^th and Kelsey Booth’s 61^st-minute blast.

 

Walker nearly secured her second multi-goal effort of the campaign in the 63^rd minute when her shot hit the post. Jurado dribbled the ball along the left wing and found Walker, who made a couple of moves to get by her defender. Then with a clean path, the senior attempted to slot her shot into the far right corner, but was inches off the mark and the shot caromed off the post.

 

Columbia’s first shot of the second period came in the 72^nd minute and off the foot of Torie Goode. The defender found herself on the right side of the field, but her shot went wide left. The Lions would attempt just one shot the rest of the way, which came with 17 seconds left in the contest, while the Aztecs racked up five more attempts of their own en route to the victory.

 

San Diego State finished with a 21-8 advantage in shots and enjoyed an 11-2 margin in the second half. The Aztecs put 10 of their shots on goal to the Lions’ one. The home team also had eight corner kicks, while the visitors were awarded four.

 

SDSU concludes its season-long six-game homestand on Sunday when Long Beach State visits Montezuma Mesa. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. PT. Admission is free.