Sept. 25, 2016
Reno, Nev. - The San Jose State women's soccer team scored twice in the first 25 minutes and never looked back on the way to a 3-1 win at Nevada in Mountain West (MW) play.
The victory gives San Jose State (5-2-3, 2-0-0 MW) a sweep in the opening weekend of MW action after a victory over UNLV Friday night.
"It was another great road victory," said Spartans' head coach Lauren Hanson. "We came out organized and did a fantastic job with keeping possession at the beginning of the match."
Kristen Amrikwa got the Spartans on the board first with a header off of a corner kick in the 20th minute. It was the freshman's second goal of the season.
Five minutes later, Gabriela Herrera sent a ball into the box and found Alexis Venegas for a goal that put SJSU up 2-0.
Nevada (4-5-0, 1-1-0 MW) struck in the 30th minute for a goal by way of Maria Sanchez's penalty kick past SJSU keeper Ana Calero low and right.
Calero replaced starting keeper Paige Simoneau after she was upended by an attacking Nevada player. Despite having to leave the match, the foul was assessed to Simoneau on the play, leading to the penalty kick conversion.
In the 70th minute, Herrera would put an exclamation point on the day with a goal of her own to put San Jose State up 3-1. The freshman's goal was the third header of the day to hit the back of the net.
"I love that all three goals were headers," Hanson said. "Gabi played fantastic and that was just one part of a great team effort that led us to a win today."
San Jose State outshot the Wolf Pack 18-12 and led in the shots on goal category, 9-5.
Calero made three big saves in 57 minutes off the bench. Nevada keeper Kelsey Quintos finished with six saves on the day.
San José State returns home next week to face New Mexico on Friday, September 30, at 4:00 p.m. (PT).