By: Diego Macaraeg (@DiegoMac_sports) – Spear Reporter | Freshman midfielder Analise Martins prepares to take a free kick in a 4-1 loss to Colorado State on Oct. 19, 2025. (Photo by Haddy Barghouti – Spear Photographer)
A game decided by moments, San Jose State women’s soccer (1-11-3, 0-4-3 MW) fell to Colorado State (9-3-3, 3-2-2 MW) Sunday afternoon at the Spartan Soccer Complex, where set pieces made the difference in the 4-1 loss.
The Rams struck first in the 25th minute when junior midfielder Mia Casey slotted a free kick from just outside the box.
Nine minutes later, sophomore defender Charlotte Memoly responded by curling her own free kick past the Colorado keeper to even the score.
“After we had that first goal, we were tied, we really had the momentum there,” Memoly said. “I knew it was a good angle, and I told myself I was going to score this one.”
The Spartans carried that momentum into the second half, stringing together sharp passes and attacking sequences, until the 66th minute.
A corner kick from Casey found senior defender Jessica Shivers, who headed it in for Colorado’s second goal, swinging control back to the Rams.
“That’s one of our biggest weaknesses right now,” SJSU head coach Sonia Curvelo said. “Colorado State put their chances away from our mistakes.”
From there on, the Spartans cohesive play and team spirit unraveled.
Colorado capitalized on the shift, pressing higher and forcing turnovers that led to goals by senior forward Olivia Fout in the 71st and junior midfielder Michaela McGowan in the 89th.
Memoly, who spends extra time perfecting her free kicks, said the team must improve on the defensive end of restarts.
“We need to stay focused, have our bodies in the right position and stay organized,” Memoly said. “The first and second goal on the set pieces hit our own players, which is really unfortunate.”
Curvelo said that defending set pieces has remained a key weakness throughout the season.
“We don’t have the height or multiple players who can win those balls in the air,” Curvelo said. “They’re doing their best and when we create our chances we really got to make them count, because at this level you’re not going to get many.”
The Spartans will host their final home game of the season and their last chance to claim a home victory against Air Force on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
