SAn DIEGO - San Diego State used a 70^th-minute goal from Angela Mitchell to notch a 1-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast Sunday night at SDSU Sports Deck. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Aztecs and marked the 100^th career triumph for ninth-year head coach Mike Friesen. SDSU improves to 3-2 on the year, while the Eagles drop to 3-2-1.

 

“We started off slow and I thought we were a little hesitant in the beginning of the game in terms of our intensity, and our passing was off,” Friesen said. “I was happy we went into halftime, 0-0. The second half I thought we came out and played a lot better. The energy was really good. We connected on a lot of passes that really opened the game and created chances. I would have loved to see us finish a few more and we had some great opportunities, but it was great to get the goal from Angela on the counter. There was some great build-up play, including on the goal, which really contributed to the win.”

 

On the aforementioned goal, sophomore Aliyah Utush sent a long ball across the field to her classmate Mitchell, who was streaking down the sideline. The Corona native took a few dribbles and deposited her shot into the corner of the net. For Mitchell, it was her team-leading third goal of the season and Utush’s first assist of the young campaign.

 

In the first half, freshman Leah Pruitt put pressure on the FGCU defense in a couple different ways. With the clock ticking toward the 11-minute mark, the Rancho Cucamonga product fended off an Eagle defender only to have another draped along her side, but she was still able to get a blast off, which required a diving save from Eagles goalie Brittany Brown. Then, not five minutes later, she sent a long pass to Mitchell, who was even with the defender, but Brown came out and beat her to the ball. The Eagles’ only dangerous shot came from 25 yards out on a laser attempt from Paulina Speckmaier in the 42^nd minute.

 

Coming out of halftime, Utush and Mitchell tried hooking up in the 50^th minute on the same play that produced the goal, but Mitchell’s shot was wide right. That seemed to get Mitchell going as she frequently created havoc for the Eagles’ defense. Pruitt also got into the act in the 68^th minute when she took the ball to the end line, reversed course, and sent a booming ball that sailed just inches above the crossbar. Then less than two minutes later, Utush and Mitchell combined to net the game-winner.

 

Florida Gulf Coast wound up edging San Diego State in shots (11-10) and shots on goal (3-2), but save for the attempt in the 42^nd minute, the Eagles did not threaten SDSU offensively. The Aztecs finished with an advantage in corner kicks, 5-3.

 

Individually, Mitchell led all players with five shots and Pruitt had three. Both were responsible for each of the team’s shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn was stellar again, directing the defense and making three saves.

 

As for Friesen’s 100^th victory, he becomes just the second SDSU women’s soccer head coach to reach the milestone, joining Chuck Clegg, who won 122 games over 11 seasons. Friesen’s record to date is 100-55-22. Clegg, meanwhile, went 122-81-8 during his tenure as head coach.

 

“It’s awesome to get the 100^th win for the program, for myself in terms of where we’re at,” Friesen said. “I’m pretty pleased with the progress of our program. There have been a lot of people who have contributed from all the players who have come through, the assistant coaches, past and present, my wife, my family, all the people that touch our program, from our strength coaches to our athletic trainers, really everybody contributes to the success of our program and that’s what makes our program special.”

 

San Diego State will be in action on Thursday, Sept. 17, when it welcomes cross-town foe San Diego to SDSU Sports Deck. First tap is set for 7 p.m. PT and admission is free. The game will also stream live at GoAztecs.com via the Mountain West Network.