By Hector Roldan (@HectorRSJSU) – Spear Reporter | Senior Bella Flocchini after a match against Utah State. (Photo by Christian Vieyra – Co-Executive Editor of the Spear)
San Jose State women’s soccer (1-13-5, MW 1-7-3) suffer a 2-1 defeat on senior night to rival Fresno State (7-9-3, MW 2-7-2).
Many of the Spartans players had a lot to play for in the final game, especially the 15 seniors on the roster.
SJSU recorded 11 total shots and had one of their best offensive performances all year despite being outshot by Fresno State with 17 of their own.
The Spartans would strike first in the 41st minute off a Bella Flocchini header to put them up 1-0 notching her fourth goal of the season.
SJSU was led in part by senior Taylor Phillips who recorded four shots, all being on goal and coming up just shy of a goal after knocking one off the top cross-bar.
“This was a personal game for me,” Phillips said. “I’m from Fresno, so I grew up with a lot of the girls. So it was emotional, I really wanted to get our last win, I felt like our team deserved that.”
The lead would not be held for long as in the 43rd minute the Bulldogs scored on a Kaelyn Miller goal to tie the game up at 1-1.
SJSU was held to just three shots in the second half because of heavy Fresno State defensive pressure.
It would not take long in the second half for the Bulldogs to find the back of the net. Sabrina Welch recorded her only goal of the season to ultimately win the game 2-1.
It is the third season the Spartans have been coached by Tina Estrada since coming off of the 2022 Mountain West Tournament Championship victory.
“Definitely winning the 2022 Mountain West Championship in New Mexico, that was by far the most fun we just grinned in every game,” Phillips said.
“These seniors were the perfect example of commitment,” Estrada said. “This group, the fact that they committed to each other and to this program, most of them are leaving here with the Mountain West Championship, that’s dedication.”
SJSU recorded four victories over the last two seasons. The team will look to rebuild with 15 seniors departing from the roster.
“The group that’s going to be rebuilding next year a lot of incoming freshman and a lot of transfers coming in, this group they set the standard,” Estrada said.
