Colin Crowley

After posting a 3-6-3 record against non-conference teams, the San Diego State women’s soccer team transformed into what seems like an entirely new squad. In the Aztecs’ first two conference games, they tied Brigham Young and Utah, the two Mountain West Conference powerhouses. This weekend, they stepped it up another notch and came away with victories against Wyoming and New Mexico. “We’re one step closer to winning conference,” Amanda Swiader said. “I can’t even remember the last time we won two big games back-to-back.” SDSU beat Wyoming (7-4-4, 1-1) Friday afternoon 1-0. According to Aztec head coach Michael Giuliano, the Cowgirls had a very direct style of play. The entire game was a battle between the two teams, with SDSU having only a 12-11 advantage in shots. The Aztecs endured the physical battle and walked off the field with their first MWC win of the season. Sophomore midfielder Jen Klunder put the ball in the net for SDSU with less than 15 minutes to go in the game. Senior goalkeeper Sophia Perez, last week’s MWC co-Defensive Player of the Week, made five saves to ensure the shutout. The momentum stayed with the Aztecs heading into their next game. They faced the New Mexico Lobos Sunday afternoon and came away with yet another 1-0 win, this one in overtime. Klunder came up big once again for SDSU (5-6-5, 2-0-2). Freshman forward Lisa Nielsen and junior defender Ashley Cooper set up the open shot for Klunder, who knocked in her second game-winning goal of the weekend a little more than three minutes into overtime. This weekend marked the end of the Aztec drought. Prior to the game against Wyoming, SDSU had not scored a goal in five games. Getting the ball in the net has been an obstacle for the team all season but it appears the team jumped that hurdle this weekend. “We got lucky putting some away this weekend,” Swiader said. “A big push was playing BYU and Utah, the hardest teams, in our first two conference games. With us doing so well and getting them out of the way, we could concentrate on winning.” Giuliano’s high-pressure defense continues to pay off for the Aztecs. The defense has set a team record for longest streak without allowing a goal. So far, SDSU has gone 477 minutes without letting an opponent score. Perez has earned eight shutouts for the season, including the past four games. Her goals against average is 0.62, knocking on the door of the all-time record (0.61) set by Katherine Judkins in 1998. Senior defender Noelle Jouglet and juniors Swiader, Alexis Solovij and Erica Lopez are also veterans who have led the team’s stellar defense. “We’re doing an even better job defensively, and we’re getting a little better at giving all we have offensively each week,” Giuliano said. “Now we are two games away from a conference championship. That improbable dream of winning conference is still alive.”