Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Conclude First Weekend of Conference Play
9/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's soccer team is still in search of its first conference win after a 4-2 loss to San Diego State Sunday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.
In what was the second Mountain West conference game of the season for the Bulldogs and Aztecs, San Diego State came out on top to leave Fresno State with a 1-10-0 record going into next weekend's matchup.
"We know that we can score some goals and be dangerous," head coach Brian Zwaschka said. "We just have to keep sharpening things that we know because you can know it all you want but at some point we have to execute it. I was really pleased that we got on the board twice today and gave a very good team a scare, that's stuff we can build on for next week matches."
San Diego scored the first goal of the game 13 minutes into the match, followed by another shot past Bulldog goalkeeper Domenique Banta just seven minutes later to leave the `Dogs tailing the Aztecs by two at the conclusion of the first half.
With 90 minutes recorded in the box, Banta gained six saves for the Bulldogs, all of which were in the second half of the game.
Fresno State rallied back with an unassisted goal by Miranda Rudolph in the 49th minute, giving the freshman defender her first goal of the season. San Diego wasted little time in response with an Aztec goal just four minutes later and gaining a lead of 3-1.
Bulldog freshman, Carly Bracken, also found the back of the net for the first time 21 minutes into the second half, leaving the `Dogs one goal away from an even game. The final goal of the game was made by Aztec forward Haley Locker with six minutes left on the clock.
"We're playing the two-time defending champions so I think there were a little bit of nerves," Zwaschka added. "It took us a little while to get into the game before we realized if we relaxed and play a little bit we'll be fine. I feel like we showed well in the second half and it was good to get two more freshmen their first goals because those are the little things that are going to be important icebreakers for us going forward."
Going into Sunday's game, the Aztecs were tied with the University of Las Vegas for first place in the 2014 Mountain West Standings both with an overall record of 6-2-1 (.722) after winning the first conference matches of the season. SDSU defeated San Jose State 1-0 and UNLV recorded its first conference win against Colorado State in Friday night's conference opener.
Up next, the `Dogs will travel to Nevada to take on the University of Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Peter Johann Memorial Field. Following Friday's matchup, Fresno State will travel to Reno, Nev. to face UNLV for the fourth conference game of the 2014 season. Kickoff against the Wolf Pack will be at 1 p.m. at Mackay Stadium.
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