By Leslie Hackett, Staff Writer
Finishing shots has been a problem plaguing the San Diego Statewomen’s soccer team for a majority of the season, and yesterday, itbecame the downfall that ended its season.
The Aztecs (7-10-2, 2-4-1 MWC) outshot UNLV 12-4, but was onlyable to convert one into a goal as they fell to the Rebels 2-1 in thefirst round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
Head coach Chuck Clegg said he was pleased with the overall effortof the team, but added that the game was typical of the whole year inthe fact that shots could not be completed.
“We had so many opportunities,” junior midfielder Jessica Korpelasaid. “Our finishing just hasn’t been that great this season.”
A delay of game and venue change to Rice-Eccles Stadium because ofinclement weather could not stop the Rebels (9-9-2, 3-4 MWC) as theytallied their first point in slightly more than seven minutes ofplay. The goal was the only shot UNLV took in the starting period.
“When you outshoot a team 12-4, that tells me we shut them downdefensively, but we had two breakdowns and they were able to score,”he said.
Clegg said the Aztecs played hard throughout the entire game andhe felt UNLV was only in the game for maybe 10 or 15 minutes.
“People capitalize on us being disorganized,” he said. “We’re notdisorganized much, but they were able to find those times when wewere.”
Along with not finishing shots, prior injuries to key players werehard to overcome.
“Kim (Castellanos) is our goal-scorer and Noelle (Jouglet) stopsgoals from being scored on us,” senior goalkeeper Stephanie Pearsonsaid. “Noelle has the energy on the field and that was lacking.”
Clegg said players stepped up and filled these positions, buthaving more depth would have been a tremendous help.
The Aztecs returned to the field after halftime with renewedintensity, trying not to let the frigid 35-degree weather bring themdown.
“Once you’re in the game, you try to stay focused and not let thecold get to you,” Pearson said.
A second UNLV goal sparked even more of a flame for SDSU, but itjust wasn’t enough to allow the Aztecs to walk away with a win.
At a time of 72:23, Korpela knocked in a header for her first goalof the season. The assist came from senior forward Becky Prilaman,who launched the ball onto the field from a corner kick.
“It felt good to get the goal in, I just wish we had a win tocelebrate,” Korpela said.
As for Pearson’s feelings on the game, she said she wasdisappointed all around.
“It’s tough when they finished the shots they took and wecouldn’t,” she said. “I feel I had a good performance, but I’mdisappointed I couldn’t come up with the big saves. Everyone on theteam deserved to move on in the tournament.”
With the win, UNLV moves on to face No. 1 Utah at 5 p.m. MSTtoday. Utah had a first round bye.
In other matches yesterday, BYU blanked Air Force 2-0 and advancesto face New Mexico at 2 p.m. MST today. UNM surpassed Wyoming 2-1 indouble overtime yesterday.
The Championship game is slated for noon MST on Saturday.
