Oct. 27, 2016
Fresno, Calif. --- Being down by multiple goals had been very unfamiliar territory for the San Jose State women's soccer team this season.
But that's where the Spartans found themselves in the second half of the regular season finale, and a comeback led by Dorthe Hoppius came up short in a 3-2 loss to the rival Fresno State on a rainy night in Fresno.
"I thought Fresno State came out with a good game plan," said Spartans' head coach Lauren Hanson. "Unfortunately we let some balls over the top go by, and that's something we can learn from. We gave it our best effort to come back, but it was just too many goals to comeback from."
Rainy doesn't quite do it justice. It poured throughout the second half when San Jose State (10-5-4, 7-3-2 MW) fired 15 shots in an attempt to erase a 3-1 deficit.
Eight of those shots were on goal, and in the 66th minute Hoppius broke through for her second tally of the match to make it 3-2. Sabrina Miller sent a ball in from near the goal line on the right side and Hoppius got inside position before directing it into the net.
The Spartans kept shooting, but to no avail. One of the better chances was a long shot from outside the box on the right wing by Darriell Franklin. The shot cut through the rain and ricochet off the top of the cross bar and out for a goal kick.
After Hoppius and the Spartans drew first blood in the ninth minute, Fresno State (10-8-1, 5-5-1 MW) scored three straight goals using as many players.
The equalizer by Alissa Pham came in the 33rd minute. Followed by Julia Glaser's in the 52nd, and finally, Peyton Cline in the 57th. The only other match that SJSU trailed by more than one goal was in the 3-1 loss to New Mexico on Sept. 30.
SJSU outshot Fresno State 21-10. Nicole Theroux made seven saves in the second half for the Bulldogs. Spartans keeper Ana Calero made three saves.
Hoppius' second goal was her team-leading eighth of the season, making her the points leader with 21. Alexis Venegas is the second-leading scorer with seven goals and 18 points.
San Jose State will have its eyes on the San Diego State vs. New Mexico match happening tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. (PT). The Spartans can still earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in next week's Mountain West Championship Tournament with a tie or a New Mexico victory.