Outshooting Boise State is not enough as the Aztecs fall 2-0 in the Pac-12 semifinal
San Diego State finished with more shots, more shots on goal and more corner kicks in Logan on Wednesday, but Boise State scored twice in the second half to win the Pac-12 semifinal 2-0 and reach a third straight conference tournament championship match.
LOGAN, Utah: The Aztecs had the better of the chances and none of the goals. Third seeded San Diego State lost 2-0 to second seeded Boise State on Wednesday afternoon in the Pac-12 semifinals at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. The Aztecs finish the tournament at 10-5-3 overall and 4-2-2 in Pac-12 play; the Broncos are 15-2-2 and 6-1-1.
The first half ended scoreless, and San Diego State had the first chance of the match: KK Chowana-Bandhu put a shot toward the bottom left corner 3 minutes and 36 seconds in, and Ava de Leest, the Boise State goalkeeper, dived to her right to save it. At the other end, goalkeeper Carlen reached down in the 38th minute to save a low shot by Jillian Anderson and preserve the 0-0 score into halftime.
Two goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half
Boise State took the lead quickly after the break, Cindy Conner scoring 3 minutes and 17 seconds after play resumed. Four minutes later Carlen kept the margin at one, punching a Delilah Woods shot away as she leaped to her left. Victoria Miller tried to tie the game in the 58th minute, but de Leest reached up and made the save. In the 61st minute the Broncos scored again, Madie Donovan heading in a corner kick by Anderson, her third goal of the season and the sixth of her career.
The final totals ran against the result. The Aztecs finished with more shots (17-11), more shots on goal (9-5) and more corner kicks (7-4) than the Broncos, who had more saves (9-3) and more fouls (12-6). Late in the second half the Aztecs pressed de Leest with a run of good shots, and Maya Stinson took the last one, from long range in the final ten seconds. It was saved, as the rest had been.
Boise State advances to the championship match of the Pac-12 Championship, at 5:30 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday, November 14, against the winner of the other semifinal, between top seeded Utah State and fourth seeded Gonzaga. It is the Broncos' third straight appearance in a conference tournament championship match.
None to date. The Tribune corrects errors promptly and transparently. Read our corrections policy.
