Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Timothy Nwachukwu/NCAA Photos
Creation Date:
No. 6 Fresno State edged out by No. 2 San Diego State in MW Semifinals, 3-2
11/7/2019 4:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BOISE, Idaho – The No. 6 seeded Fresno State women's soccer team fell to No. 2 San Diego State 3-2 at the Boas Soccer Complex on Thursday afternoon, ending the Bulldogs tournament run in the semifinals.
It was a high-scoring first match between the Bulldogs and the Aztecs. SDSU struck first to take a 1-0 lead. Melissa Ellis followed with her first goal of the match to even the score. The Aztecs retook the lead in the 32nd minute. Ellis scored again to knot the match 2-2 in the 39th minute. SDSU scored one more time in the 41st minute to take a 3-2 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs were unable to recover from the one-goal deficit in the second half.
Fresno State finishes the 2019 season with an overall record of 9-7-4 (5-4-2 MW).
Tori Nicolo, Megan Amick, Lorena Montanes, Sydni Lunt, Ele Avery, Shantay Tamez, Kasidee Wiley, Robyn McCarthy, Emma Chivers and Bailee Kern recorded the start for the Bulldogs, with Valentina Vivas in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SDSU opened the first half with back-to-back shots. Fresno State quickly responded with five consecutive shots of its own, with three on goal. The Aztecs' goalkeeper was able to grab all three saves to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
The Aztecs took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute after scoring a fast-break goal off a goal kick.
Ellis responded for the Bulldogs, sending a shot from the top of the box past the goalkeeper's dive to tie the match 1-1 in the 31st minute.
The Aztecs were quick to counter with their second goal of the game to nab a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Ellis was able to get her foot on a rebound and send it to the back of the net, tying the match 2-2 in the 39th minute.
Once again, SDSU was able to quickly counter, scoring on a free kick that went over the Bulldog goalkeeper's head to retake the lead 3-2.
Wiley took one more shot before the first 45 minutes expired, but missed wide. The Aztecs would take a one-goal lead into halftime.
After 45 minutes of play, Fresno State owned the advantage in shots 11-5 and corners 4-0. Vivas grabbed one save.
Milena Zink checked in at goalkeeper for the Bulldogs to start the second half.
Fresno State started the second half firing on offensive with four consecutive shots, but couldn't get one to fall.
The Bulldogs' defense held the Aztecs without a shot for nearly ten minutes, as they took their first shot of the half in the 54th minute but Zink was able to grab her first save of the match.
Tamez nearly came away with the equalizer in the 71st minute when she sent the ball at the top left of the goal, but the Aztec goalkeeper was able to leap for the save to keep the lead.
The Bulldogs took one more shot in the 87th minute, but missed wide. The clock would expire with the Aztecs up one goal, ending the Bulldogs' tournament run in the semifinals.
NOTABLES
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWSOC
Instagram: FresnoStateWSOC
Facebook: Fresno State Athletics
It was a high-scoring first match between the Bulldogs and the Aztecs. SDSU struck first to take a 1-0 lead. Melissa Ellis followed with her first goal of the match to even the score. The Aztecs retook the lead in the 32nd minute. Ellis scored again to knot the match 2-2 in the 39th minute. SDSU scored one more time in the 41st minute to take a 3-2 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs were unable to recover from the one-goal deficit in the second half.
Fresno State finishes the 2019 season with an overall record of 9-7-4 (5-4-2 MW).
Tori Nicolo, Megan Amick, Lorena Montanes, Sydni Lunt, Ele Avery, Shantay Tamez, Kasidee Wiley, Robyn McCarthy, Emma Chivers and Bailee Kern recorded the start for the Bulldogs, with Valentina Vivas in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SDSU opened the first half with back-to-back shots. Fresno State quickly responded with five consecutive shots of its own, with three on goal. The Aztecs' goalkeeper was able to grab all three saves to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
The Aztecs took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute after scoring a fast-break goal off a goal kick.
Ellis responded for the Bulldogs, sending a shot from the top of the box past the goalkeeper's dive to tie the match 1-1 in the 31st minute.
The Aztecs were quick to counter with their second goal of the game to nab a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute.
The back-and-forth battle continued as Ellis was able to get her foot on a rebound and send it to the back of the net, tying the match 2-2 in the 39th minute.
Once again, SDSU was able to quickly counter, scoring on a free kick that went over the Bulldog goalkeeper's head to retake the lead 3-2.
Wiley took one more shot before the first 45 minutes expired, but missed wide. The Aztecs would take a one-goal lead into halftime.
After 45 minutes of play, Fresno State owned the advantage in shots 11-5 and corners 4-0. Vivas grabbed one save.
Milena Zink checked in at goalkeeper for the Bulldogs to start the second half.
Fresno State started the second half firing on offensive with four consecutive shots, but couldn't get one to fall.
The Bulldogs' defense held the Aztecs without a shot for nearly ten minutes, as they took their first shot of the half in the 54th minute but Zink was able to grab her first save of the match.
Tamez nearly came away with the equalizer in the 71st minute when she sent the ball at the top left of the goal, but the Aztec goalkeeper was able to leap for the save to keep the lead.
The Bulldogs took one more shot in the 87th minute, but missed wide. The clock would expire with the Aztecs up one goal, ending the Bulldogs' tournament run in the semifinals.
NOTABLES
- Fresno State owned the advantage in shots 21-8 and corners 8-0.
- Fresno State posted a new season-high with 21 shots.
- Zink and Vivas combined for three saves.
- Melissa Ellis scored a career-high two goals and four points.
- Ele Avery tied her career-high with five shots.
- Eight Bulldogs recorded multiple shots for the Bulldogs.
- Fresno State made its first MW semifinal appearance since 2013.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWSOC
Instagram: FresnoStateWSOC
Facebook: Fresno State Athletics
Team Stats
FS
SDS
Goals
2
3
Shots
21
8
Shots on Goal
7
6
Saves
3
5
Corners
8
0
Fouls
15
17
Scoring Plays

Moorehead, Taylor (5)
Assisted By: Lisowski, Brooke
GOAL by SDS Moorehead, Taylor (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Lisowski, Brooke, goal number 5 for season.
27:08

ELLIS, Melissa (3)
GOAL by FS ELLIS, Melissa, goal number 3 for season.
30:51

Elve, Rachelle (7)
Assisted By: Speros, Rachel
GOAL by SDS Elve, Rachelle, Assist by Speros, Rachel, goal number 7 for season.
31:45

ELLIS, Melissa (4)
Assisted By: LUCERO, Kylie
GOAL by FS ELLIS, Melissa, Assist by LUCERO, Kylie, goal number 4 for season.
38:44

Utush, Kiera (3)
GOAL by SDS Utush, Kiera, goal number 3 for season.
40:11
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Soccer Media Availability (8/4/25)
Monday, August 04
WSOC Highlight: vs. Air Force - Senior Night (10/24/24)
Friday, October 25
WSOC Highlight: vs. CSU Bakersfield [9/8/24]
Tuesday, September 10
WSOC Highlight: vs. Weber State (8/22/24)
Friday, August 23