Oct. 8, 2017
Albuquerque, N.M. --- The San Jose State women's soccer team stunned New Mexico by striking for two goals in less than 30 seconds and the Spartans beat the Lobos, 2-1, in Mountain West play.
"I'm proud of the team for coming in here and beating a really hard-nosed, organized and talented UNM team who is at the top of our conference right now," said Spartans' head coach Lauren Hanson. "To come in on a Sunday and at elevation and play all the way through the 90 minutes was just fantastic."
After a scoreless first half, SJSU's Yaritza Arista lined up a corner kick from the right side in the 62nd minute. She kicked it out past the top right corner of the box where Darriell Franklin nailed a high arching shot that dove inside the top left corner of the goal. It is the first goal of the season for Franklin.
Then just 26 seconds of game time went by before Jamilecxth Becerra and the Spartans struck again to make it 2-0. Shortly after New Mexico's kickoff at midfield the Spartans got the ball back with numbers heading toward the goal. Jennifer Orozco played the ball ahead and to the left finding an open Becerra. Becerra sent the shot from a few steps inside the 18 past the UNM keeper inside right post.
"Darriell's goal was just beautiful and then so was Jamie's (Jamilecxth)," Hanson said. "They were both well-placed and I felt like we earned both of those goals."
San Jose State (7-5-1, 4-1-1 MW) controlled possession throughout most of the match and outshot New Mexico (9-5-0, 4-2-0 MW), 16-7. The shot count was 11-3 in favor of the Spartans at halftime.
Paige Simoneau finished with one save in the win. UNM's Claire Lynch put a diving header past Simoneau in the 82nd minute to erase the shutout. Emily Johnson saved two of SJSU's four shots on goal.
"I thought the defensive effort on this entire trip was phenomenal," Hanson said. "The back line was very solid and then Paige was fantastic in goal for our team."
The Spartans finished their four-game road trip 2-1-1 and now return home to face Nevada on Friday, October 13, at the Spartan Soccer Complex.