SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State women's soccer is playing their best ball at the perfect time as the season nears to an end. Tonight the Spartans went on the road and picked up a big 2-0 shutout victory over New Mexico for an imperative three points.
With the win, SJSU improves to 4-3-2 in league play and 6-7-4 overall. Tonight's win was crucial as they continue to try to lock up a spot in the MW Tournament. With 14 points, they are right in thick of things with two matches remaining.
The Spartans impressed on both ends of the field Friday night with the offense tallying their third multi-goal effort of the year, and their second in as many games.
Senior Jennifer Orozco got the scoring started for the Spartans in the 12th minute with her first goal of the season. The Ventura, California native put a charge into what initially looked like a cross from 20 yards out from the right side of the net, however the ball spun right and caught Lobos' keeper Malia Vanisi off guard as the ball sailed over her reach to the back of the net.
Orozco finished the match with a team-high four shots including two on goal.
Looking for insurance in the second half, Carlie James nearly capitalized on a shot from inside the box, but it was deflected out of play setting up a corner kick. Karlee Pottorff, as she has all season, put a great ball in play off the kick and Kristen Amarikwa was waiting to put her head on it and knock in the textbook goal. The goal was Amarikwa's fourth of the last four games.
"I'm so happy for this team," head coach Lauren Hanson said. "There were some big moments from our squad with Jenny (Orozco) having an amazing game and finish, and Karlee Pottorff serving in an amazing service to Kristen (Amarikwa), who had an incredible header. It was a total team effort and everyone played a huge part against a very good New Mexico team."
As they've done all season, Ariana Romero and her defense looked nothing short of outstanding as they kept the Lobos off the board to pick up their eighth shutout of the season. Romeo was rock-solid in the net as she tallied seven saves in 20 shots faced. Undoubtedly, her biggest came in the 73rd minute as she turned away Lobos' leading scorer Gwen Maly on a penalty kick to preserve the shutout and kill any momentum New Mexico was building.
With her eighth shutout, Romero has the second-most single-season shutouts in school history behind Paige Simoneau, who posted 11 last season
SJSU will look to continue their high level of play on Sunday as they face San Diego State on the road. The Spartans will then host Fresno State at home on Friday, November 1 in the regular-season finale.
