By Austin Turner – Staff Writer
Deadlocked at one in the 72nd minute with its biggest rival on the biggest stage, San Jose State needed a big play to advance to the semi-finals of the Mountain West tournament.
Junior forward Jamilecxth Becerra, the team-leader in goals with five, scores in key situations and when they are most desperately needed. Tuesday was no exception.
After a massive display of her speed in which she outran two Fresno State defenders for a loose ball, Becerra only needed to tap the ball into the net passed an impatient sliding goalkeeper to give the Spartans the lead.
“I felt the pressure on me but I was keeping calm, just feeling like ‘I’m going to score this,’” Becerra said. “I saw the goalkeeper coming out, so I just hit it with my left foot and it went it.”
In the 2-1 quarterfinal victory over the Bulldogs, Becerra wasn’t the only Spartan scorer.
Junior defender Kristen Amarikwa scored when a lucky bounce gave her the ball just a few yards in front of the goal. She was able to punch it in with ease to give SJSU a 1-0 lead just 12 minutes into the match.
San Jose State head coach Lauren Hanson was pleased with the offensive effort.
“We know we have a fantastic defensive team,” Hanson said. “So one of the goals this game was to shoot on target and obviously follow and just create great opportunities.”
Naturally, like most rivalry matches, it was physical.
The Spartans were given four yellow cards over the 90 minutes, including one to Becerra early. The game was chippy and referees were kept busy.
“We definitely want to win every game we play, especially against our rivals,” Becerra said. “It definitely does bring a little more aggressiveness in us.”
With the win, the Spartans advance to the MW tournament semi-finals, where they will take on the top-seeded Boise State Broncos on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Spartan Soccer Field.
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