The Fresno State soccer team lost 3-1 to San Diego State on Sunday — the team’s penultimate home game of the season.
The Aztecs (14-1-1, 4-0-0 MWC) came into the match ranked seventh in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll and on a six-game win streak.
The Bulldogs offense got off to an early start against the Mountain West Conference-leading Aztecs.
Seven minutes into regulation, defender Kayla Kret blasted the ball 35 yards through the air to senior forward Callie Hancock. With three Aztecs defenders orbiting the perimeter, Hancock broke through to kick the ball past goalkeeper Rachel Boaz for a goal.
The Bulldogs defense held the Aztecs scoreless in the first half. Four of sophomore goalkeeper Katie DeVault’s six saves were in the first 45 minutes — with a pivotal stop coming in the closing minute of the first half.
“I was very pleased with how we kept battling. We know we created chances,” coach Brian Zwaschka said.
The Aztecs took over in the second half behind senior forward Megan Jurado, who head-butted the ball into the net for a goal eight minutes into the second half.
Jurado and forward Sarah Halverson scored the Aztecs’ last two in the final 15 minutes of regulation. Jurado leads the Aztecs with 12 goals.
“San Diego is a very good team,” Zwaschka said. “They’re playing very well and we knew it was going to be difficult in the second half.
“They had nothing to do but throw everything at us to make sure that they got back into the game. They did that. They’re a good enough team to find some openings.”
Down 2-1 with 10 minutes remaining, Hancock outran two Aztec defenders and kicked the ball straight towards San Diego State’s goal. The ball, however, barely missed the net and ricocheted off the cross beam.
Hancock, who on most occasions had to break through two or three defenders to get in scoring range, finished with a goal and six shots. The Bulldogs totaled 15 shots in the game. Hancock leads the team with 14 goals.
“We understand that (Callie)’s going to be targeted and to be marked and double-marked. But she’s capable of dealing with it and I think she showed that today,” Zwaschka said.
“We need to keep working on variety and our attack. I thought we did better with the variety as the game wore on.”
Fresno State entered Sunday’s contest coming off a 1-1 tie at home against New Mexico in a game that went undecided after two overtime periods.
The Bulldogs (4-8-4, 2-1-1 MWC) had not lost a conference game at home prior to Sunday. The Bulldogs’ sole home loss of the season was 2-0 to UCLA, then-ranked fourth by the NSCAA. The Bulldogs have faced four ranked teams this season.
Fresno State has three conference games remaining before postseason play. The team begins its final road stand on Friday at Boise State.
“Every game is going to be a battle because even the teams that might not be looking necessarily now at a conference championship are still going to be battling to get in the (Mountain West) tournament,” Zwaschka said.
The Bulldogs are in a three-way tie with University of Nevada, Las Vegas and New Mexico for second place in the Mountain West.
Fresno State’s final home game of the season is Oct. 27 against UNLV.
“We feel really good about how we’re playing,” Zwaschka said. “We’ll take this loss in stride because San Diego State is a really good team, but we absolutely aren’t going to be giving up hope.”
