The No. 17/25/18 San Diego State women's soccer team used a dominating second half performance to earn a 3-2 win against UC Irvine on Friday night at the SDSU Sports Deck. With the win, the Aztecs improve to 8-1-1 and the Anteaters drop to 4-7 on the year.

SDSU was led offensively by Jensen Skinner as the junior scored the game-winner in the 59th minute after notching her first goal late in the first half. The Aztecs, however, wouldn't have been in that position if it wasn't for senior Megan Jurado's goal just two minutes before on a spectacular shot from 18 yards out. SDSU had entered halftime trailing by a goal and with UCI appearing to be in control. That changed in the second period as the Aztecs showed the same grit they had showed all season to clinch their eighth win in 2012.

While San Diego State was ultimately victorious, it didn't come out playing at its highest level in the opening half. The Anteaters took advantage of this early and scored at the 12:38 mark. Natalia Ledezma took a pass from teammate Cami Privett outside the box and then attempted a shot that went right over redshirt sophomore Rachel Boaz.

SDSU came fighting back though and notched the equalizer in the 38th minute on Skinner's first goal of the season. Skinner received the ball outside the penalty box from Sarah Halverson and sailed it right past the outstretched hands of UCI goalkeeper Corey Tobin.

After giving up a tough goal early on in the half, the Aztecs had it unfortunately happen again at the 42:07 mark. Jackie Samis took a pass from Ledezma in front of the net and lobbed the ball right over Boaz to give the Anteaters a 2-1 lead at halftime.

In the second half, SDSU wasted little time as it looked to score the equalizer early on. The Aztecs tallied five consecutive shot attempts in the first nine minutes before finally connecting in the 57th minute. Jurado took a pass from sophomore Hannah Keane on the left side and drilled a beautiful shot toward the top right corner of the goal that Tobin had no chance to save.

The Aztecs had equalized the contest, but didn't let up. Just 2:36 later, Skinner found herself in front of the net after a great pass from sophomore Haley Locker and didn't hesitate to fire a shot attempt that went right past Tobin, giving SDSU a 3-2 lead it wouldn't relinquish.

UCI kept at it nonetheless, but the Aztec defense stepped up and snuffed out any Anteater scoring opportunities. At the end of the night, SDSU held the advantage in shots, 23-6 (5-3 in shots on goal), as well as in corner kicks by a 6-2 margin. Boaz, meanwhile, notched one save en route to her eighth win on the season.

The Aztecs will now travel to UC Santa Barbara on Sunday for a match with the Gauchos. The contest is scheduled for a 2 p.m. PT start at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.

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