Box Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In a final tune up before heading into the regular season gauntlet, San Jose State women's soccer put on an impressive display in their lone exhibition match of the 2021 preseason with a 2-0 shutout victory on the road against Sacramento State.
Led by a crop of sensational newcomers, the Spartan offense was in control early and often as they put up 21 total shots, nearly double the highest shot total from last season (11 vs. Boise State), with 10 of those shots on-goal. The freshman duo of Taylor Phillips and Bella Flocchini combined for five shots on-goal with each finishing the evening with a match-high four total shot attempts. Phillips and Flocchini were just two of six Spartans that finished with multiple shot attempts in the winning effort.
It was Flocchini who put the Spartans on top early on in the second period. In the 64th minute, the reigning Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year from the state of Nevada took the Hornets' keeper on one-on-one. After a sliding attempt deflected her first shot, Flocchini quickly rebounded her own attempt and buried the follow up shot in the back of the empty net. Just seven minutes later, the Spartans would strike again, this time off a corner kick. The kick was inadvertently knocked home by Sacramento State's Jessica Mann as she attempted to go for the block.
On the other side of the pitch, freshmen goalkeepers Autum Monty and Shayla Sugai had a relatively quiet night, but the duo made saves on all three shots on goal as they combined for the shutout.
With a win in hand, San Jose State will look to keep the momentum flowing as they ready themselves for next week's opener. That opening match is a tall order as the Spartans are set to battle with the defending national champion Santa Clara Broncos on Thursday in Santa Clara.
