SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State women's soccer made it two in a row on Sunday afternoon and is playing their best soccer of the year as the finish line on the 2020 season draws closer. The Spartans picked up another big victory on their home pitch, defeating Nevada by a final of 1-0 in what will be SJSU's final home match of the abbreviated season.
The Spartans (2-6-1) kicked off the celebration in pregame with a senior day ceremony for outgoing student-athletes Lauola Amanoni and Bella Bowers, and never stopped the celebration after holding on for the big win.
Similar to what we saw in the Spartans' 1-0 victory over Boise State to kick off the weekend, San Jose State played another terrific defensive game, limiting the Wolf Pack to six shot attempts with just a pair on-goal. The Spartan back line fared well against the Nevada scoring attack with any semblance of a scoring opportunity turned away by the stout defense. Goalkeeper Zoe Aguirre had a relatively quiet day in the net with the back line playing so well in front of her, but she finished with a pair of saves to tally her second-straight clean sheet of the campaign.
?? @orlandoshanson recaps the win#SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/TjVFneB5I5
— SJSU Women's Soccer (@sjsusoccer) April 4, 2021
The Spartan offense put up double digit shot attempts for the third match in a row and finished the afternoon with a 10-6 advantage over the Wolf Pack. Four of those shots were on frame with freshman Evan House responsible for two of them. House was also the catalyst for proved to be the game-winning goal. In the 38th minute, the freshman from Visalia took the ball at midfield and streaked down the left sideline before sending off a beautiful cross into the box. Bowers was waiting to receive and quickly flipped the ball behind her to freshman Cynthia Flores, who snuck the shot past the diving Nevada keeper for her first collegiate goal.
Playing this one on loop all day#SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/stvP9qTAjX
— SJSU Women's Soccer (@sjsusoccer) April 4, 2021
With a 1-0 lead coming out of the halftime break, the teams traded blows for the first 20 minutes of the second half with neither giving way until a penalty on the Spartans inside the box allowed the Wolf Pack a golden opportunity to tie the game on a penalty kick situation. Nevada's Gabby Brown was tabbed to take the shot, but it cleared over both the extended arms of Aguirre and the crossbar, harmlessly falling in the grass beyond the fence. The teams each had one more good look in the final 15 minutes, but both shots were saved. The Spartans were then able to play keep away in the closing moments and walked away with a two-game win streak under their belt.
The Spartans will look to make it three in a row to close out the 2020 campaign on Saturday, April 10, in their season finale at Fresno State. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m. PT.