SAN DIEGO – San Diego State remained in first place in the Mountain West standings after it beat UNLV, 3-0, Friday night at SDSU Sports Deck. With the win, the Aztecs improve to 7-6-2 and 5-1 in the league. UNLV, meanwhile, falls to 7-7-2 and 2-4 in conference action.

 

SDSU received the only goal it needed just 68 seconds into the game. With the ball trickling out of bounds along the left side of the pitch, Haley Palmer threw the ball in to Hannah Keane, who deposited her shot past UNLV goalkeeper Kylie Wassell to post her Mountain West-best 10^th goal of the season. For Palmer, the assist was her second of 2013.

 

Then in the 26^th minute, San Diego State added to its lead when Keane touched it to Evie Millynn, who crossed it to the far post where Kelsey Booth was waiting. The junior rose up and headed the ball into the net for her first goal of the year. The assist was Keane’s fourth, which tied her for the team lead with Haley Locker. Millynn, meanwhile, pocketed her first career assist and point.

 

Much later in the second half, SDSU padded its lead with a goal by Kory Spotts in the 67^th minute. Haley Palmer started the sequence with a long-distance attempt that was ultimately blocked with the ricochet going to Victoria Barba. From there, Spotts cleaned up the mess and scored from six yards out.

 

UNLV had a couple of dangerous chances after the Aztecs upped their lead to 3-0, but San Diego State denied the Rebels each time en route to its 15^th win in its last 16 regular-season home games vs. unranked teams (15-0-1). SDSU also posted its 11^th straight home win vs. MW foes and its sixth in a row over UNLV.

 

When the dust settled, the Aztecs held a 14-10 advantage in shots and enjoyed a 7-5 lead in shots on goal. SDSU also attempted five corner kicks to UNLV’s four.

 

Keane led all players with four shots, including a game-high three on goal. Booth and Barba added two shots apiece for SDSU. Melanie Vaughn, meanwhile, made five saves en route to her sixth shutout.

 

San Diego State stayed atop the MW standings with the win and enters Sunday’s Senior Day game tied with New Mexico for the conference lead as both have 15 points. Fresno State, which was tied with the Aztecs and Lobos entering Friday’s action, tied Wyoming and now sits in third place (13 points).

 

SDSU closes out its final homestand of 2013 on Sunday when it plays host to Nevada at noon PT. The home finale will stream live on the Mountain West Network.