SDSU WOMEN'S SOCCER BLANKED AT NO. 16/12 PENN STATE

Aztecs fall to 0-4 on the season

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo via goaztecs.com

September 9, 2016 (University Park, Pa.) - San Diego State suffered a 3-0 defeat at defending national champion and No. 16/12 Penn State on Friday at Jeffrey Field. The loss drops the Aztecs to 0-4 on the season, while the Nittany Lions improve to 3-2-1.

SDSU started the evening off by attacking the Penn State defense, but was unsuccessful in its search for its first goal of 2016. The Nittany Lions, however, settled down and began to work in the attacking third. A long ball down the right sideline led to the first PSU goal when Frannie Crouse beat her defender and stuck her shot into the right side of the net in the 29^th minute.

Facing a 1-0 deficit when the second half started, San Diego State’s offensive push made the Nittany Lions’ defense work, but like the first half, the Aztecs could not find the back of the net. The story was the exact opposite for Penn State, which after stopping SDSU in the early moments of the frame, countered with a Megan Schafter goal from 18 yards out in the 52^nd minute. The goal was the first second-half goal San Diego State had allowed in 111 minutes, 30 seconds.

Penn State tripled its advantage less than four minutes later when Crouse recorded her second goal of the night. This time, the forward put her shot into the top left corner from six yards out on the right side.

The game finished with no teams scoring in the final 34 minutes, but it did end with Penn State leading SDSU in every category. The Nittany Lions owned advantages in shots, shots on goal and corner kicks.

Goalkeeper Gabby English made a number of outstanding saves despite the outcome and recorded a career- and game-high 10 stops. Offensively, Milan Moses, Zsuria Phare, Jen Rupey, Aliyah Utush and Ariana Robles each attempted one shot apiece. Utush had SDSU’s lone shot on goal.

The Aztecs return to action on Sunday, Sept. 11, when they play at Cornell. First tap is scheduled for noon ET/9 a.m. PT and the contest will be streamed live online via the Ivy League Digital Network. A link to the stream will be available at GoAztecs.com.