By Siriana Gudino (@sirianagudino) – Spear Reporter | Senior forward Paige Pineda-Aliamus against Sacramento State on Sept. 17, 2026 (Photo by Marco Munoz – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State women’s soccer (1-4-2) defeated Sacramento State (4-2-2), 2-0, at the Spartan Soccer Complex on Thursday.
The Spartans earned their first home-game win since 2023, scoring both goals in the second half.
Freshman forward Nicole Moita de Deus scored the first goal in the 71st minute. Sophomore forward Maryam Ladkani crossed the ball from the goal line and found Moita de Deus wide open in the penalty area to score her first collegiate goal.
“It’s a surreal feeling as a freshman,” Moita de Deus said. “It was just so special, and I’m never going to forget this in my life.”
Senior forward Paige Pineda-Aliamus scored her first goal of the season by tapping in the ball after Hornets junior goalkeeper Hayley Hartsburg failed to get a grip on it in the 78th minute.
“She just needed to get her first goal of the season,” SJSU head coach Sonia Curvelo said. “And more to come for her.”
Sacramento State applied pressure on SJSU throughout the game, totaling 15 shots and 8 corners, but failed to get the ball past junior goalkeeper Paige Fry.
This was Fry’s second shutout of the season and marked the third game this season in which she matched her career-high of 8 saves.
“She’s elevated her game. Really proud of everything she’s done,” Curvelo said. “She stepped up big time for us.”
The Spartans honored their seniors before the game as part of Senior Day. They took time to recognize goalkeeper Kelsie Luquin, midfielder Lily Montesinos, defender Carmen Hinton and Pineda-Aliamus.
“Their seniority made so much of an impact,” Fry said. “The way they see the game, the way they compose themselves, it truly brings up the whole vibe of the group.”
The Spartans will compete in their first conference game at 6 p.m. on Thursday against the University of New Mexico at the UNM Soccer Complex in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
