SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State women's soccer freshman Evan House scored her first collegiate goal as the Spartans fell in their first action of the season in a 3-1 final against Fresno State on Saturday at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
Playing their first match since November 5, 2019, the Spartans (0-1-0) had to shake off the rust early on. The offensive attack resulted in just two shots on goal in the opening period, with the first being House's equalizer in the 30th minute. The forward from Visalia, Calif., made a beautiful move to get past a defender one-on-one to catch up to a well-placed pass from Karlee Pottorff and drew out the Fresno State keeper. Her shot from 20 yards out easily found its mark in the bottom of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Unfortunately, Fresno State (1-0-0) wasted no time in their response as they netted their second goal of the contest just 20 seconds later. The Bulldogs tacked on another goal inside the 38th minute on a header off a corner and took a 3-1 lead into the halftime break.
.@orlandoshanson recaps today's match #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/h9TENx4HQU
— SJSU Women's Soccer (@sjsusoccer) March 7, 2021
The second half saw more shot opportunities for the Spartans as they put up six in the final 45:00, but none were able to find the back of the net as Fresno State keeper Valentina Vivas finished with three saves. Inside the other net was a face familiar to the pitch but not necessarily at that position as Sylvia Sloss made her first-ever start in the net. The junior from Penryn did well to shake off the nerves of the first half by putting up a clean sheet in the second period and finished with three saves.
San Jose State finished with eight shots, four on-goal, while Fresno State attempted 11 shots with six on-goal. The Bulldogs attempted eight corners to the Spartans' three.
SJSU returns to the pitch next weekend for a pair of home matches against San Diego State and UNLV beginning on Friday at 7:00 p.m.