Falcons Fall in Offensive Explosion to SDSU, 5-4

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy women's soccer team came up short in an offensive explosion against San Diego State, 5-4, Friday evening, Oct. 18, at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The Falcons (8-5-1, 3-4 MW) had a 3-1 lead in the first half before SDSU (6-7-1, 5-2) scored four unanswered goals to take the match.

For the Falcons, the four goals were the most in a single game since a 4-0 win over Fresno State back in 2014. In all, AF was out-shot by just one, 18-17, while owning a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Possession was also almost dead even, as AF owned a 51-49 percent advantage.

The Falcons got goals from four different players, with junior Emma Nelson scoring the first, her fourth of the season. Freshman Lexi Romero had the second for her team and now conference leading 11th of the year. The goal tied the program's freshman record for goals in a season. Classmate Kayla Milford had the third, the first of her AF career. Finally, junior Jillian Jamero had the fourth and final tally, her sixth on the season.

The first 20 minutes of the match went goal-less, but that changed in a hurry, as Nelson got the scoring started in the 21st with a firecracker from outside the box, assisted by sophomore Natalia Gutierrez, making it 1-0. SDSU had the response two minutes later to make it 1-1.

Romero then went to work, scoring in the 28th minute all by herself, giving AF the lead back. The goal tied the freshman record of 11 in a season set back in 1992 by Tracy Healy. Not too long after that, in the 30th, Milford was able to get a foot on a free ball sent into the box by junior Alex Giggie to give AF the 3-1 advantage. SDSU was able to get another goal in the 36th, however, to make it 3-2 at the half.

Coming out of the break, SDSU scored three more in a row, in the 53rd, 68th, and 79th, to race ahead, 5-3. Jamero scored unassisted in the 86th, but it was too late in the match to find the equalizer, and AF fell by the one goal margin. All seven of AF's Mountain West Conference games have now been decided by one goal.

The Falcons return to the pitch Sunday, Oct. 20, when they welcome New Mexico into Cadet Soccer Stadium. Kickoff against the Lobos is set for noon.

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