By James Kim (@Jdkim38) and Sandeep Chandok (@sandeepchandok):
No. 4 San Jose State advanced to the semi-finals of the WAC Championship Tournament after a 2-0 win against No. 5 University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday.
Finlay Wood and Zach Penner notched a goal each to keep the Spartans (8-10-1, 5-4-1 WAC) season going.
The first goal was scored by the freshman Wood in the 56th minute as he drilled a one-timer from outside the box into the top-left corner of the goal.
“Obviously we got a bit of a wonder goal, but I felt we deserved it,” said head coach Simon Tobin to the WAC Digital Network after the game.
About 20 minutes later, freshman Max Allen sent in a corner kick and the junior Penner elevated, heading the ball which took a bounce and found the back of the net.
Allen set up both the Spartans goals in the match.
Tobin said it would’ve been difficult for his team to come back had the Vaqueros (7-7-3, 4-4-2 WAC) scored first because UTRGV has been good at holding leads all season. Although he would’ve liked one more insurance goal from his group.
“We got it and maybe should’ve added another one at the end there for a third one,” Tobin said.
Goalkeeper David Heredia saved the only shot that came his way, resulting in his sixth win of the season.
The Spartans face top-seeded Air Force Academy (14-1-3, 8-0-2 WAC) on Friday at 4 p.m. in Las Vegas.
