SAN JOSE, Calif. – For the second time in as many weeks senior Darriell Franklin scored the game-winning goal to lift the Spartans to a 1-0 victory, this time coming in the 47th-minute against New Mexico Sunday at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
After squandering several shot attempts in the first half, the Spartans came out strong on offense in the second period, driving the ball down into Lobos' territory with ease. With just over a minute played, SJSU's Jamilecxth Becerra passed the ball to Franklin, who squeezed a shot off from just outside the box and past a defender that hit the right post and deflected in for the score.
It is Franklin's second goal of the season after previously netting the game-winner against Colorado College on September 21. The senior from La Habra, California, led the team for the fourth-consecutive game in shots taken with five, and is averaging 6.0 shots taken per game in Mountain West play.
Defensively, the Spartans once again cracked down on the opposition, limiting New Mexico to eight shots taken. Senior goalkeeper Paige Simoneau tallied four saves as part of her fifth shutout on the season.
SJSU finished with 12 shots taken. Becerra, who added her team-leading seventh point on the assist, finished with three shots while Gabriella Hurtado took two, including one on the ensuing possession following the score that just barely missed its mark.
With the win, the Spartans now sit in a tie for second in the Mountain West with a 3-1-0 record and 4-5-2 mark overall. New Mexico dropped to 6-5-0 and 2-2-0 in conference play.
San Jose State will now hit the road for Nevada for a pair of weekend contests at Nevada on Friday, October 5, and UNLV on October 7.
