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SDSU Eliminated From NCAA Tournament Aztecs fall to crosstown rival USD, 2-1
Nov. 11, 1999
from SDSU Sports Information SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's soccer team's season came to a close on Wednesday when it lost to the University of San Diego, 2-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in front of 2,158 at USD's Torero Stadium. The game was one of the most evenly played contests the Aztecs (15-7 overall, 5-1 Mountain West Conference) were involved in all season. Both SDSU and USD (16-4 overall, 5-2 West Coast Conference) had their chances on offense, but the majority of the game was played in the midfield. With the game scoreless 64 minutes into the game, former Aztec Sufia Wali gave the Toreros the lead when she scored off a ball that rebounded off the crossbar. SDSU senior midfielder and second team All-Mountain West Conference selection Megan Mattes tied the game just eight minutes later when she punched in a loose ball in front of the USD net. The goal was Mattes' 10th of the season. Five minutes after Mattes' goal, USD midfielder Kendra Wales gave the Toreros the lead for good when she headed in a short pass from across the goal mouth from forward Val Strocco. The Aztecs had a chance to tie the game one last time before the end of regulation when it appeared that the ball crossed the goal line while in USD goalkeeper Leila Duren's hands. However, with SDSU celebrating what would have been the game-tying goal, referee Mark Arblaster ruled that the ball did not cross the line, sealing the Torero win. The Aztecs finished the season as the Mountain West Conference Co-Champions, and Wednesday's game marked the second straight NCAA Tournament appearance for SDSU, which returns 17 players and 10 regulars next year.
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