Las Cruces, N.M. - Amanda Heins' first goal of the season in extra time gave San Jose State women's soccer (3-7-1, 1-1-0 WAC) a 1-0 victory over New Mexico State in a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) match in Las Cruces, N.M., Sunday afternoon.
"In the first half, New Mexico State (1-8-3, 0-1-1 WAC) played hard and well in the first half and they really controlled the tempo of the game," said San Jose State head coach Jeff Leightman. "But we responded well in the second half. We took over the game and put them under pressure. Finally, a goal went in and we needed it."
Seeing overtime for the first time since its season opener against USF on August 17, the Spartans and Aggies were scoreless until Heins' goal at the 96-minute mark. "The goal was off of a corner kick," said Leightman. "Kelsey Lord drove the ball and Heins hit a header over the keeper's head."
Through 90 minutes of play, San Jose State held the shot advantage, nine-to-six. Junior Sarah Fraser and senior Kelsey Lord led the Spartans with three shots each. Freshman Zoe Makrigiannis made three saves to earn her first-career shutout for the Spartans, while Mikaela Bitner tallied four saves for the Aggies.
Said Leightman, "New Mexico State was very difficult to play against. We never got into a rhythm in the first half and we weathered the storm a bit. However, we gained a bit of will in the second half and that was the difference in the match.
"The kids have been working hard and it is nice to be on the right side of the scoresheet."
San Jose State returns home for its first WAC match of the season at Spartan Stadium on Friday, October 5, to face Texas State for a 7:00 p.m. match.