By: Jasmina Lara (@lara_jasmina06) – Spear Reporter | SJSU junior forward Paige Pineda-Aliamus sprints toward the sideline to take possession of the ball against Colorado State on Oct.19. (Photo by Haddy Barghouti – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State women’s soccer (1-11-3, 0-3-4 MW) suffered another defeat in conference play against Colorado State (9-3-3, 3-2-2 MW) 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Having not an ideal season it has not discouraged the Spartans as it was ever so present of their resilience in today’s match.
“We keep each other in check and accountable. But the passion overall we all want to win. We all know we’re capable of winning,” sophomore goalkeeper Paige Fry said.
In the beginning of the match, it was an equal fight for possession as both teams tried taking control of the ball.
The Rams had control of the middle field while the Spartans dominated the sides of the field, particularly the left side.
Back in the first half, the backline supported Fry with slowing and stopping the Rams’ momentum.
The Spartans constantly send off pressure to the Rams, challenging them for control of the ball.
In the 24th minute, a foul on Spartan graduate student midfielder Emily Moberly awarded a free kick to Rams freshman midfielder Hope Thao.
Itallowed the Rams to take the lead 1-0 when junior midfielder Mia Casey took the shot and scored at the bottom right.
Answering back during a foul on the Rams for handball awarded the Spartans a free kick.
Spartan sophomore defender Charlotte Memoly took it, and curved the ball into the top left of goal, equalizing the match 1-1 before the first half was over.
“I knew it was a good angle and told myself that I was going to score this one,” Memoly said. “I was going in confident with it and just had to hit with the right spin.”
After the goal, SJSU’s momentum intensified as itsmorale went up and pressure came back stronger.
However, the Rams matched their energy, as they took the lead 2-1 in the 66th minute of the match.
Casey took the corner kick and crossed it to senior defender Jessica Shivers who scored her first goal of the season at the bottom right of the net.
Capitalizing on the momentum, the Rams scored again as junior defender/forward Bridget Arnold set up senior forward Oliva Fout, who sent the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
The fight from SJSU was ever so present, with three back-to-back corner kicks where each player was ready to create something in the box.
“The set pieces we get we gotta create and make something happen from them,” SJSU head coach Sonia Curvelo said. “I thought we had quality corner kicks and we got numbers in the box. Those are the plays we have to make count.”
As the clock was running down, a fierce battle between the two teams as Spartans tried everything to create an opportunity against the Rams.
At 89 minutes, the Rams scored 4-1 when junior midfielder/forward Michaela McGowan beat Fry in the box and scored at the center of goal.
The Spartans ended the match with seven shots with two shots on goal while the Rams had 14 shots with 10 on goal.
“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted but I think we can still bounce back from this in the next game and try to get that win,” Memoly said.
Continuing conference play and looking for a win at home, SJSU faces Air Force at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
