By Chris Estrada – Staff Writer
Paige Simoneau has been added to the record books as the all-time leader in career shutouts after San Jose State’s (7-5-2, 6-1-0 MW) 1-0 victory over Colorado State (5-6-4, 2-3-2 MW).
The senior recorded her 17th-career shutout and surpassed current assistant coach Zoe Makrigiannis.
“It is a great feeling knowing she is the one training me now and I outdid her record,” Simoneau said.
On paper, it seemed this would be a tough matchup for both squads.
Both teams focus on defensive skills as they don’t score often but when they do, that seems to be enough. The Rams entered Friday night 2-0-1 in their last three games without conceding a single goal.
The Spartans know all too well how that feels considering Simoneau is on a hot streak herself by only allowing two goals in seven games of conference play.
“Paige is awesome, the team loves her leadership,” head coach Lauren Hanson said. “It’s also a great credit to our defense, most of the games there is only one shot on goal through 90 minutes which is pretty phenomenal, it’s a team effort.”
There wasn’t much action in the first half. SJSU only mustered three shots while CSU only had a single shot.
What SJSU does well is maintain ball possession and it showed coming out of the second half. The team got more aggressive and got more shots than the Rams with seven to their two.
“We just kept going at it over and over again and eventually something would break down,” Hanson said.
Still, neither team could find the net until the 84th minute when senior forward Darriell Franklin scored her fourth goal of the season and put the Spartans on top.
“We needed to get that goal to not go into overtime,” Franklin said. “We wanted to have fresher legs for Sunday’s game.”
Simoneau has seven shutouts overall this season with five coming in the first seven games of conference play.
With the win, SJSU is now 5-0 lifetime against CSU.
On Sunday, the Spartans will face Wyoming for the final home game of the season. The team will honor seniors Aspyn Audibert, Franklin and Simoneau before the 12 p.m. kick-off.
Follow Chris on Twitter @estradadotc