The San Jose State women’s soccer team is off to an unfavorable start after its first match on Saturday ended in a 3-1 defeat against Fresno State.
Saturday’s loss was the Spartans’ (0-1-0 MWC) first match since Nov. 5, 2019 after the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s amazing to be able to play soccer again,” head coach Lauren Hanson said in a video posted to the SJSU women’s soccer Twitter account. “We’re just appreciative of that opportunity right now, learned a lot in this game. It wasn’t a pretty game for both teams to be honest.”
The game occurred at the Spartan Soccer Complex and took place despite rainy weather concerns.
The tone of the match was set after two Fresno State corner kicks allowed the team to score the first goal of the night after only 12 minutes.
Fresno State forward Ele Avery made the goal with help from defender Shantay Tamez following an attempt at the goal from a free kick on a foul against SJSU.
The foul was called after Fresno State midfielder Bailee Kern fell during a run in with SJSU midfielder Jordan Rowell.
Another foul was called on the Spartans after a tumble involving SJSU midfielder and redshirt sophomore Joanna Fernandez, but the Bulldogs were unable to score the goal on their
free kick.
Forward Evan House quickly scored the Spartans’ only goal of the night thirty minutes into the match with the help of an assist by defender Karlee Pottorff.
This was House’s first game and goal, both as a Spartan and as a college athlete after transferring from California State University, Long Beach where she didn’t play because of
COVID-19 restrictions.
The game wasn’t tied for long as the Bulldogs made their second goal of the night less than 30 seconds after House’s goal.
Fresno State forward Emma Chivers was assisted by forward Kassandra Ceja and defender Robyn McCarthy.
Only seven minutes after Fresno State made its third goal, forward Jordan Brown scored with help from defenders Tamez and Kern.
Pottorff attempted another shot, but it was saved by Bulldog goalkeeper Valentina Vivas.
The first period of the game ended shortly after and the score stayed the same the remainder of the match.
The second period was a struggle for the Spartans.
SJSU tried to even the score with 6 shots on goal and 3 saves. No more goals were scored by either team for the entire half.
The only yellow card of the night was called on Chivers toward the end of the second half, which allowed Pottorff a free kick that unfortunately missed.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to get back out on the field, to learn and grow and regroup and get back after it tomorrow,” Hanson said in the video.
The Spartans are scheduled to play San Diego State on Friday at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
