Sept. 20, 2013
San Jose, Calif. - The San Jose State University women's soccer team scored a goal within the first two minutes of each half en route to its first win of the season, a 3-2 non-conference victory over the University of the Pacific on Friday, September 20.
Just 1:46 into the match, the Spartans (1-7-0) took first lead. After a scramble in front of the net, Kareli Rodriguez collected her own rebound and fed the ball to Lupita Estrada. The sophomore was able to score her third goal of the season for the 1-0 lead.
The Tigers (1-5-2) answered in the 30th minute for the 1-1 score. Mirella Matos slid the ball to the right of the nearside post past a diving Zoe Makrigiannis.
San Jose State regained the match's lead just 34 second into the second half. Rodriguez headed in her first career goal off of a pass from Estrada for the 2-1 lead.
But the Tigers scored the equalizer at the 50-minute mark. Maricela Padilla kicked a rising shot into Makrigiannis' net to tie the match, 2-2.
The Spartans overtook the match's lead for the third time in the 62nd minute. After Cheryl Kute was taken down by a Tiger, she was awarded a penalty kick. The senior sliced the ball to the left side of the goal, scoring her first career penalty kick for the 3-2 score.
Despite competing with 10 players for the match's final six minutes after Alexis Venegas was issued a red card, San Jose State held on to its lead for its first win of the season.
Makrigiannis (1-2-0) made a season-high five saves in her first win of the year, while Tiger Tashia Long made four saves.
The Spartans took 10 shots, with Kute and Estrada recording three shots each. Pacific took 13 shots, led by Padilla's six shots.
San Jose State opens its inaugural Mountain West season at New Mexico on Friday, September 27 for a 7:00 p.m. (MDT) match.