SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2018) – The Wyoming soccer team (5-2-2 overall, 0-1-0 MW) suffered a tough 2-1 loss against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-6-0, 1-0-0 MW) on Friday night.

There wasn’t a lot going for either team in the early part of the first half. Wyoming got its first opportunity in the 13^th minute as junior Michaela Stark got a shot which was saved by goalie Gabby English. The Aztecs earned a look at 17:07 by Lauren Dicus but junior Cristina Salazar was able to corral the shot. The Cowgirls would get on the board first. With 29:49 on the clock, senior Annika Clayton would get a pass from freshman Caitlin Pickett and from 10-yards out hit a right to left cross cage shot which connected to the back of the net putting UW up 1-0. San Diego State had three shots in the remaining 15 minutes of the half, but one went wide and the other two were saved by Salazar. Wyoming would take the 1-0 lead headed in to the locker room. SDSU outshot the Cowgirls 5-3 and each team had three shots on goal.

San Diego State came out strong to begin the half with two early scoring chances. The Cowgirls countered with shots from Clayton and Brittney Stark. The Aztecs continued to put on the pressure and would score the equalizer in the 69^th minute. A shot 30 yards out to the far post by Chloe Frisch evened things up at one all. Less than three minutes later with 72:19 on the clock, Sarah Broacha assisted on a shot by Yasmin Ahooja from six yards out front. Despite having three solid looks at the goal, the Cowgirls would drop its conference opener, 2-1.  

“I thought we created a ton of good chances and need to find a way to finish a few more,” head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “We battled for 90 minutes but had a couple of lapses in concentration on the defensive side and a good team will make you pay for that.”

Clayton and Brittney Stark each had three shots in the contest while Pickett had the lone assist for UW. The first of her career. Senior Taylor Burton and freshman Savannah Warner each logged 90 minutes. Three Aztecs recorded two shots each. San Diego State outshot Wyoming by one, 12-11, and had nine shots on goal compared to five by the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls will continue play on the road against the New Mexico Lobos on Sunday afternoon. The match is set for 12:30 p.m. MT in Albuquerque.