SAN JOSE, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2018) – Senior
Annika Clayton scored her fourth goal of the season in the 94
th minute to lift the Wyoming soccer team (9-3-4 overall, 4-2-2 MW) to a 3-2 overtime victory over the San Jose State Spartans (7-6-2, 6-2 MW) on Sunday afternoon. It's the first time since Oct. 19, 2014 that the Cowgirls have won in San Jose. With the victory, head coach
Pete Cuadrado tied for the most wins in school history with 63.
San Jose State came out as the aggressive with four early shots compared to just one by the Cowgirls. Freshman
Indianna Asimus had the chance for Wyoming but it was saved by goalie Paige Simoneau. With 18:13 on the clock, the Spartans would get on the board first. Off a corner kick, the ball bounced around the front of the goal and Kristen Amarikwa would bury it past goalie
Cristina Salazar. The Cowgirls continued to battle and would score the equalizer in the 26
th minute. Clayton sent a ball over to freshman
Savannah Warner who connected from the left top corner to make it one all. UW had three other opportunities to take the lead but two shots were saved by Simoneau and the other went high. It would be 1-1 after the first 45 minutes.
The Spartans struck back out of the halftime break with three shots and the fourth finally connected. On a throw in from 25 yards out, Jamilecxth Becerra would push it past goalie
Hannah Lee to give San Jose State a 2-1 advantage. In the 62
nd minute, the Cowgirls responded with a goal to tie it up. After a
Michaela Stark shot was blocked,
Summer Taube knocked it in off the rebound past the goalie to make it 2-2. It was the third goal of the season for Taube. Both defenses clamped down and neither team was able to gain the upper hand and it would head in to overtime.
In the overtime, Wyoming would get its opportunity in the 94
th minute after a foul on the Spartans. Clayton would line up for the penalty shot and push it pass Simoneau to help the Cowgirls to the 3-2 victory.
"It wasn't really our best first half and I think we got off to a slow start," head coach
Pete Cuadrado said. "San Jose State is a very good team and in the top part of our conference. With that said, everything that didn't go our way in the first half seemed to go well in the second and we responded. We got the game tied up and in overtime Annika did a nice job getting in the box, made some things happen and finished it off. I'm proud of the effort, execution and we know it's not easy to go on the road. It was a great soccer game all together. We are excited to be at home next week."
Clayton had a team-high three of the Cowgirls 11 shots during the match. Six shots were on goal compared to three by the Spartans. Salazar and Lee split time in goal today, while senior
Taylor Burton logged all 93 minutes. San Jose State outshot Wyoming 15-11 and had ten corner kicks compared to six by Wyoming.
The Cowgirls will return home for a pair of home contests next weekend. They will host the Nevada on Friday followed by a game with UNLV on Sunday. The game on Friday is set for 3 p.m. MT while the match against the Rebels will be played at 1 p.m.
