FRESNO, Calif. – Facing a win-and-in situation, Fresno State left nothing to chance, blanking San Jose State 3-0 on Thursday evening at Bulldog Soccer Stadium to clinch its spot in the Mountain West tournament. For the third straight match, Kaelyn Miller scored two goals in another dominant performance by the junior as she wreaked havoc on the Spartan defense.
Fresno State held an 18-2 advantage in shots and put seven of them on frame compared to just one for the Spartans as Valentina Vivas recorded her fourth shutout of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Knowing the task at hand, Fresno State came out firing but had to wait until the 15th minute to break the deadlock. As she did on Sunday, it was Kaelyn Miller who got the Bulldogs going. Set up by a pass from Ciara Wilson, Miller took the ball to the left of the goal around Bente Pernot. At a tough angle, the junior was able to slot home the match's opening goal.
The Bulldogs continued to rack up the shots into the second half, looking for breathing room but it didn't come until the 74th minute. A clearance just inside Fresno State's half from Julia Hardwick took one bounce in the Spartans' penalty box before Miller pounced. The junior ripped a half volley into the back of the net past Pernot.
Klara Chapeyrout added another insurance goal in the 88th minute. A through ball from Haley Espinoza sent the French striker free through the defense. One-on-one with Pernot, Chapeyrout slipped the ball past the on-rushing keeper.
SCORING SUMMARY
14:05 - FS - Kaelyn Miller (Ciara Wilson)
73:46 - FS - Kaelyn Miller (Julia Hardwick)
87:59 - FS - Klara Chapeyrout (Haley Espinoza)
NOTES
Fresno State has scored 12 goals in its last three matches. The Bulldogs had scored 10 in their previous 16 matches.
Fresno State will make its seventh trip to the Mountain West tournament.
Since 2017, the Bulldogs have accumulated double-digit points in its final six matches four times to qualify for the tournament as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Fresno State earned its fourth conference win of the season.
Fresno State is 5-1-0 this season when leading at any point in a match.
Fresno State is 5-0-0 this season when scoring at least two goals.
Kaelyn Miller recorded her third career brace in as many games.
Miller tallied her eighth career game-winning goal. All eight have come in Mountain West games.
Miller has 18 career goals, moving her to No. 10 in program history.
Ciara Wilson recorded her sixth assist of the season, the ninth-most in a season in program history.
Klara Chapeyrout scored her second goal of the year on just her second shot of the year.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will face No. 4 seed Colorado State on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT at Madrid Sport Complex in Laramie, Wyoming. All matches at the Mountain West Soccer Championship will stream live on the Mountain West Network