SAN DIEGO – Top-seeded San Diego State rallied from a first-half deficit to tie the game, forced overtime and eventually won the penalty-kick shootout vs. No. 4 seed Colorado College Friday night in the semifinals of the Mountain West Championship at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs and Tigers played to a 1-1 draw with San Diego State moving on to the finals after defeating CC, 3-2, in the shootout.

 

“What a great performance by the team after playing OK in the first half,” head coach Mike Friesen said. “To come back in the second half and play to level we played at, get the tying goal and change the momentum of the game, the perseverance and the effort was awesome.

 

“It was huge to have Mariah Helmer back on the field,” Friesen added. “I thought Xochi Hunter played a great game, as did Haley Locker. We had some big-time performances by a lot of players. In the penalty kicks, to tuck most of ours away and have (goalkeeper) Melanie Vaughn come up big was huge. Colorado College is a very good team and obviously we have to turn around and do it again in two days so we have to emotionally recharge. I’m really proud of the team and the result.”

 

The shootout started with CC’s Jessie Ayers and SDSU’s Katie Perry finding the back of the net, turning all of the attention to Chanisse Hendrix and Locker. The Tigers knocked theirs off the post, leaving the door open for the Aztecs, but they also missed. Colorado College’s Sarah Schweiss and Hunter matched each other’s goals to put the score at 2-2.

 

The turning point came in the next round when Kaeli Vandersluis pushed her shot wide left and Meggie Gulczynski did just the opposite, putting her shot past Rowan Frederiksen. With San Diego State ahead, 3-2, the Aztecs needed a stop and they got it as Alexis Long tried to go right and Vaughn smothered it to propel the No. 1 seed to the championship game.

 

In the first half, the Aztecs (14-4-2) controlled the pace in the opening 10 minutes, but the tide slowly turned toward Colorado College’s way. Then in the 12^th minute, the Tigers struck when Vandersluis hit a streaking Ayers, who dribbled down the right sideline and put her diagonal shot from 12 yards out past Vaughn.

 

The rest of the frame was fairly even despite the fact the Aztecs did not attempt a shot until late in the first half. Each time SDSU went on the attack, CC was able to create just enough havoc to disrupt San Diego State’s rhythm. On the other end, Colorado College (12-5-4) had its chances, but a majority of its shots were non-threatening. All told, at the end of 45 minutes, the Tigers enjoyed a 10-2 shot advantage, including a 3-0 edge in shots on goal.

 

San Diego State leveled the score in the 58^th minute when Morgan Darling made a run down the left flank and touched it to Haley Locker, who gave it back to Darling. After a couple more dribbles, Darling passed the ball back to Locker and the senior knocked in her fourth goal of the season past Tigers keeper Rowan Frederiksen. For Darling, the assist was her second of the year.

 

The rest of the second half and overtime featured some excellent chances by SDSU, but the Aztecs were unable to cash in on the golden opportunities. For Colorado College, it experienced what San Diego State did in the first half – attacking the Aztec defense only to have SDSU’s backline extinguish the threat.

 

When the dust settled, the Tigers outshot the Aztecs, 17-12, and held a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. Corner kicks were nearly even with San Diego State edging CC, 4-3.

 

Individually, Locker lead the Aztecs with three shots and Angela Mitchell came off the bench to contribute a pair. Helmer, who missed the last three games due to injury, attempted one shot in 78 minutes off the bench.

 

San Diego State will have one day to prepare for second-seeded Wyoming, a team it beat, 5-2, at home on Oct. 24. The title game is set for Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. PT atop SDSU Sports Deck and will stream live at GoAztecs.com via the Mountain West Network. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth (3-14), seniors (55+) and students (any student with valid ID) at the Sports Deck ticket office (cash only). The Aztecs are in search of their third consecutive MW tournament crown and third straight NCAA appearance.