SAN JOSE, Calif. – Fresno State concluded the 2024 season with a come-from-behind win over in-state rival San Jose State, 2-1, on Thursday night at Spartan Soccer Complex.
The end-to-end match featured a combined 28 shots with 16 on frame. The difference though was a 10-minute stretch around the half where the Bulldogs scored twice just minutes after giving up the game's opening goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs came out controlling play early and often. A miss play in the back by San Jose State in the 16th minute led to Kaelyn Miller getting off a strike from a tight angle. Spartan keeper Shayla Sugai was only able to punch the ball away. Just over a minute later, Haley Espinoza took her crack on goal going for the opposite top corner but Sugai was there.
Miller continued to put Sugai under pressure in the 21st minute. A turnover in the Spartans' defensive third led to a strike from outside the 18 that forced Sugai to make a diving stop, pushing the ball out of play.
Despite piling up shots on the Spartans, SJSU got on the board first. In the 41st
minute, a long ball was headed in by Bella Flocchini.
The Bulldogs struck back quickly. Just over two minutes later, Jordan Lau one-touched a long ball into the box that was flicked on past Sugai by Miller.
Just over five minutes into the second half, a throw-in to Alexis Campbell deep in the Spartans' end provided the go-ahead for Fresno State. The junior tapped the ball back to Sabrina Welch who on a tight angle lofted a ball toward goal that drifted out of the reach of Sugai and dropped into the goal.
While the scoring did not look over, Shivani Battaglia made sure it was for the Spartans. In the 72nd minute, a shot looking for the underside of the crossbar was tipped up and over the bar by the Bulldog keeper to preserve Fresno State's lead.
NOTES
Fresno State finished the 2024 season with a 7-9-3 overall record, 2-7-2 in Mountain West play.
The Bulldogs won their first game against the Spartans when scoring less than three goals since Nov. 1, 2013.
Fresno State earned its third come-from-behind victory of the season. The 'Dogs previously hadn't recorded one since the 2021 season.
Fresno State won its third road match of the year.
Sabrina Welch scored the second goal of her career, and first game-winner.
Kaelyn Miller scored her seventh goal of the season.
Miller finished her career tied for fourth in program history in career goals with 25, and sixth in career points with 57.
Jordan Lau and Sam Paepen were each credited with their first assists of the season.
Ciara Wilson earned her team-leading seventh of the season. It is the most by a Bulldog in a season since Robyn McCarthy's seven in 2019.
SCORING SUMMARY
41:18 – SJSU – Bella Flocchini (Kyah Coady)
43:28 – FS – Kaelyn Miller (Jordan Lau, Sam Paepen)
50:19 – FS – Sabrina Welch (Ciara Wilson)