Oct. 15, 2017
San Jose, Calif. --- The San Jose State women's soccer team erased a 2-0 halftime deficit and stormed back to beat UNLV, 3-2, in Mountain West play on Sunday at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
The Spartans (9-5-1, 6-1-1 MW) scored three goals in the second half, two coming from Darriell Franklin, and SJSU remains in first place with the victory.
Scoring in the highly competitive match between two of the top Mountain West teams began with a penalty kick in the 21st minute for UNLV (12-5-0, 4-4-0 MW). In true Paige Simoneau fashion, she blocked Amanda Galbraith's penalty kick attempt, but then was unable stop Galbraith's second shot off of the rebound.
It appeared that the match could hinge on that PK play, however it wouldn't be the only penalty kick of the contest. Darriell Franklins was awarded a penalty kick later in the 67th minute which truly ended up as the turning point in the contest.
Trailing 2-0, Franklin buried her penalty kick for SJSU's first goal. The Spartan bench ignited and the play served as an instant momentum swing lasting the remainder of the match.
Just over four minutes later in the 71st minute Jennifer Orozco swung her right leg thigh-high and blasted a shot past UNLV keeper Jordan Sallee to even the match, 2-2.
Then in the 83rd minute of a frenzied-paced match, it was Franklin once again. Dorthe Hoppius dribbled the ball down the right wing toward the goal line, turned and hit Franklin with a pass. Franklin gathered and fired the ball into the upper left corner of the net for the game-winning goal.
Meanwhile UNLV managed just two shots in the final 45 minutes with only one going on goal. The Spartans outshot the Rebels 18-7 in the match and put 10 shots on goal.
SJSU controlled the shot count in the first period as well, 8-5, depite trailing 2-0. UNLV's Michaela Morris scored the second goal for UNLV in the 35th minute.
With the result Simoneau picks up win number six during Mountain West play. She saved two shots in the process including the penalty kick. Simoneau has stopped two penalty kicks during league play - today's and one that preserved a shutout on the road at San Diego State (10/6).
The first-place Spartans go on the road to begin next week with a match at Colorado College on Friday, October 22. Then the team returns to the Spartan Soccer Complex for a match on Sunday against Air Force.