Sept. 25, 2014
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San José, Calif. - The San José State women's soccer team will open Mountain West play this weekend with a pair of home matches beginning on Friday, Sept. 26 against San Diego State at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28 at 12:00 p.m. versus New Mexico.
LAST TIME OUT
PORTLAND, Ore. (9/21/14) - Lupita Estrada headed the game-winning goal in the 85th minute as the San José State women's soccer team (3-3-2) defeated the Portland State Vikings, 1-0 in its final nonconference match Sunday evening at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Spartans were set up for a free kick in the 83rd minute following a Portland State (3-3-2) foul. Fellow senior Kareli Rodriguez placed a smooth through ball to Estrada, as she volleyed home the winner near the left corner of the goal from 12 yards out.
Junior goalkeeper Zoe Makrigiannis continued her stellar play in goal, making four saves to keep Portland State off the board while earning her fourth shutout of the season, and her third in the Spartans past four matches.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State enters Friday's match with a league best 5-2-1 overall record. The Aztecs, winners of four of its previous five, defeated Idaho State 3-0 in its most recent match. SDSU are led by seniors Kelsey Booth and Hannah Keane and freshman Angela Mitchell. Booth leads the team with eight points, while Mitchell and Keane are tied for second with six.
SDSU leads the all-time series with the Spartans, 7-1. In 2013, the teams matched up in San Diego, as the Aztecs defeated San José 2-0. Zoe Makrigiannis and Sarah Peplinski combined for 12 saves, the most in a single match since 2011.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
The Lobos will come into the weekend match with a 2-3-0 record. In its last match, sophomore Ruth Bruciaga posted her first career hat trick in the Lobos 4-1 victory over New Mexico State in the 2014-15 Rio Grande Rivalry. Bruciaga and junior midfielder Dylann O'Connor are tied for the team lead in points with three a piece.
San José State leads the all-time series with the Lobos, 2-1-0. Last season, New Mexico earned its first win in the series defeating the Spartans in Albuquerque, NM, 2-1 in overtime. Sarah Frasher gave San José a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, before New Mexico responded with a goal of its own in the 59th minute and the golden goal just four minutes into overtime.
#1 vs. #1
San José State will look rely on its stout defense in Friday's Mountain West opener against the high-powered San Diego State offense.
The Spartans boost the Mountain West best defense, leading the conference in goals allowed (5), goals against average (0.59) and shutouts (4). While the Aztecs are the Mountain West leaders on offense leading the conference in points (41), goals (15), corner kicks (62), and shots (155).
MAKRIGIANNIS NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following the Spartans 1-0 win over Portland State, junior Zoe Makrigiannis was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. The junior goalkeeper made a match-high four saves, and recorded her third shutout in four matches. The award marked the first career award for the Makrigiannis, and the first for the Spartans this season. Through eight matches, Makrigiannis has put together a clean sheet in 50% of the Spartans matches.
SPARTAN DEFENSE
Through its first eight matches of the season, the Spartans have shutout four of its eight opponents, allowing just five goals. The .592 goals-against average is tops in the Mountain West and ranks 33rd nationally.
Makrigiannis leads the Mountain West in shutouts (4), save percentage (.865) and goals-against average (0.61).
ON DECK FOR THE SPARTANS
San José State will travel to the Silver State for Mountain West play next weekend starting on Friday, Oct. 3 at Nevada in Mackay Stadium and Sunday, Oct. 5 at UNLV on Johann Field.