SAN DIEGO – San Diego State owned a halftime lead, but could not protect it in a 2-1 loss to No. 16 Portland on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon at SDSU Sports Deck. The loss snapped the Aztecs’ 13-game regular-season unbeaten streak and puts them at 2-5-2 on the year. Portland moved to 6-1-1 with the win.

 

For the first 17 minutes, the teams traded possessions and it wasn’t until the 18^th when we saw the first of two big-time stops from San Diego State goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn. Following a nice passing sequence, Portland’s Ellen Parker had a point blank shot from eight yards out that Vaughn denied. Then seven minutes later, Danica Evans was presented with a point-blank look and Vaughn ended up turning that attempt away.

 

Fourteen minutes later, Hannah Keane happened. The forward continued her assault on opposing goalkeepers in the 39^th minute when she took a centered ball from Kelsey Schwartz and headed it past Erin Dees from five yards out. Her fourth goal of the season was her third in her last two games and the assist was Schwartz’s first point of her SDSU career.

 

The Aztecs carried a 1-0 lead into the second half, but the advantage was wiped away quickly after the ball was put in action. Just 12 seconds in, Parker touched a ball to Micaela Capelle, who provided the equalizer.

 

San Diego State continued to press on and outplayed the Pilots over the next 35 minutes, logging six shots and while keeping Portland from taking any of its own. The Pilots’ next shot, which was taken by Parker, however, was saved by Vaughn and the rebound went back to Parker, who slotted her shot into the lower left corner in the 81^st minute.

 

The Aztecs nearly leveled the score in the 89^th minute, but Kory Spotts’ long-range shot sailed just above the crossbar and SDSU was handed its first regular-season home loss since Oct. 16, 2011.

 

San Diego State finished what was a physical game (20 fouls) with a 15-11 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Keane shared game-high honors with Parker after attempting five shots on the day. Defensively, Vaughn had five saves and Dees was credited with three.

 

The Aztecs open Mountain West action next Friday, Sept. 27, when they play host to Fresno State in a game slated for 7 p.m. PT. The conference clash is free to attend and will be streamed at GoAztecs.com via the Mountain West Network.

 

-SDSU-