SAN JOSE, Calif. – Great teams find a way to overcome adversity when their backs are against the wall, and that's just what San Jose State women's soccer did on Friday evening. Trailing 1-0 with 45 minutes the play in a must-win game, the Spartans erased the halftime deficit with two late goals, including the game-winner inside the 85th minute, to come from behind and defeat Fresno State 2-1 and punch their ticket to their fifth-straight Mountain West Championship Tournament.
Entering the night in seventh place with 14 points, the Spartans (7-8-4, 5-4-2) had to defeat their rival in the season finale in order to jump into one of the last three remaining spots in the tournament. With the win, they locked down the fifth seed and will play the No. 4 seed New Mexico on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. MT in Boise, Idaho.
It's only fitting that on senior night it was a pair of seniors that lifted SJSU to victory. Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Spartans came out with renewed energy to start the second frame as their offense began to make a push. In the 73rd minute, one of their shots on goal finally found its mark as Kristen Amarikwa pushed past a pair of defenders and put a well-placed shot into the corner of the net for the equalizing score. It's the senior's fifth goal of the year after entering the year with five combined in her first three seasons.
After back-and-forth play for the next 20 minutes, it appeared as if the game was going to be settled in overtime. That is until Carlie James got in on the action. The Calabasas native put up a beautiful shot that she curved into the corner of the net to give the Spartans the go-ahead inside the 85th minute.
Despite conceding an early goal, the Spartan Defense was on lockdown for the remainder of the night, allowing just three shots total. Goalkeeper Ariana Romero only had to make two saves, but one of them was one of the plays of the night. In the 52nd minute with Fresno State up 1-0, the Bulldogs' leading scorer Ele Avery slipped past the Spartan defenders for a one-on-one with Romero. Romero played the ensuing shot perfectly and knocked it away before falling on it, keeping the Spartans alive.
The Spartans road to defending their Mountain West Championship Tournament title begins on Tuesday.