By Jonathan Canas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
SJSU women’s soccer team huddle at the Spartan Soccer Complex | Photo by Aikman Fang
SJSU women’s soccer ( 3-7-6, 1-4-3) could not keep up in it’s 3-0 loss against Utah State ( 9-7-1, 6-2-0) at Chuck and Gloria Bell soccer field on Sunday afternoon.
It was a back and forth match for the first 25 minutes, but the Aggies pushed the Spartans into a defensive mode for the final minutes of the first half. Before they knew it, the Spartans couldn’t get out of their side of the field.
Aggie Freshman Forward Solena Sellers would check into the match at the 30′ minute and changed the game entirely.
Sellers had herself a career day with her first two goals of her collegiate career coming five just minutes apart. With the first goal coming in the 35th minute on a missile shot in the top left corner of the net on an assist by senior midfielder Alexa Day.
On the 40th minute junior midfielder Rine Yonaha set up Sellers for the perfect header.
The Spartans attempted five shots, while the Aggies approached the net 12 times in the first half of the match.
Spartan sophomore goalie Bente Pernot saved seven shots in the first half and would walk away with nine saved when the match was all said and done.
The Spartan defense came out sluggish in the second half, surrendering an own goal on a cross from Aggie sophomore forward Tess Werts on the 53rd minute that bounced off a Spartan defender. The miscommunication would end up being the finishing blow.
However, that didn’t stop the Spartan offense from being the aggressor for the rest of the match with their backs against the wall.
The Spartans outshot the Aggies eight to seven, maintaining possession after the third goal.
Utah State officially clinched its spot in the Mountain West tournament following its win over SJSU.
“Our players are fighting a lot of adversity,” said Spartan head coach Tina Estrada “this is the year we’re going through some injuries and sicknesses but the one thing I know is they’re going to respond to this at home.”
The reigning Mountain West champions play their final two home games this week.
SJSU will play its next match at the Spartan Complex Thursday against Colorado College at 7:00 p.m.