SAN DIEGO – San Diego State returned home for the first time in 15 days and downed UNLV, 3-0, Friday night at SDSU Sports Deck. Buoyed by Victoria Barba’s one goal and one assist, the Aztecs moved to 6-4 on the year and 2-1 in the Mountain West. UNLV dropped to 5-7 and 0-3 in league with the loss.

 

“I thought we played well in the first half,” head coach Mike Friesen said. “The pace in the second half was a little slow for my taste, but I thought we still did well. Overall it was a dominant performance and I thought it was a good momentum builder for Sunday’s game. We got a lot of people playing time, a lot of people rest, so it was a good setup for the next game.”

 

SDSU received the only goal it would need in defeating the Rebels for the eighth straight time in the 14^th minute. After Jen Rupey stole the ball along the right sideline, the junior sent the ball into the box where Aliyah Utush knocked it past Jordan Sallee. The goal was Utush’s team-leading fourth of the season and Rupey’s assist marked her second of the year.

 

Then in the 22^nd minute, San Diego State doubled its advantage on a set piece. Barba took the corner kick and delivered it to Milan Moses, who headed the ball through traffic from 10 yards out. Her goal tied Utush for the team lead, while Barba’s assist was her first point of the season.

 

Barba later added a third goal for the home side in the 30^th minute after Leah Pruitt was taken down just outside of the box setting up a free kick. Barba, the junior from Albuquerque, N.M., lined up her shot, fired and ultimately froze Sallee to notch her first goal of 2015.

 

Following a halftime intermission that featured a 3-0 San Diego State lead, the Aztecs and Rebels played a scoreless 45 minutes in the second half, which led to SDSU’s fourth consecutive 3-0 victory over UNLV.

 

The Aztecs finished the game with more shots (21-13), shots on goal (8-5) and corner kicks (7-1) than the Rebels. Hedda Regefalk and Angela Mitchell led all players with five shots and Mitchell put a game-high four on target. Melanie Vaughn, meanwhile, had five saves and posted her fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

 

San Diego State continues its season-long three-game homestand on Sunday when it plays host to Nevada at noon PT. Admission is free at SDSU Sports Deck and the contest will stream live at GoAztecs.com courtesy of the Mountain West Network.