Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The USD women's soccer team (2-4-2) held off a late push by No. 20 San Diego State (4-2-1) to earn a 2-0 win over their cross-town rivals in front of 1,429 fans Friday evening. The Toreros held a 1-0 lead at the half, but the Aztecs controlled the pace in the second frame, where they attempted 12 of their 14 shots. It seemed as if the Aztecs tied the match up in the 73rd minute when Jen Rupey headed in a corner kick, but a foul was called on the Aztecs and the goal was waived off. Three minutes later, Nikki Pappalardo finished a cross from Jacey Birtcher to give USD a comfortable 2-0 lead.

In the 17th minute senior Mariah Butera sent a corner kick into a crowded box and Julia Sherwood took advantage of her six-foot frame to head in the game-winning goal past Aztec keeper Melanie Vaughn. The Toreros held a 4-2 shot advantage in the first half and their stout defense withheld the Aztecs from having any serious goal scoring opportunities.

However, in the second half the Aztecs put the pressure on the USD back line. They fired shot after shot but the USD defense stayed strong and kept SDSU from finding the back of the net. The Aztecs looked to have scored the equalizer after a header from a corner kick, but the official ruled that the goal scorer, Jen Rupey, pushed a Torero defender in the back and called off the goal.

"At first I thought they scored and I was upset," Nikki Pappalardo said after the match. "We were all kind of scrambling there and it looked like they were going to get a goal, so I think we just needed to relax.

Just a few minutes later, Pappalardo received a low cross from Jacey Birtcher and she was able to send it into the lower right corner of the goal. Both Pappalardo and Birtcher are transfers from the University of Denver.

It was the second shutout on the season for the Toreros. McKenna Tollack (1-3-0) had six saves to pick up her first save of the season. Aztecs keeper, Melanie Vaughn, took the loss after allowing two goals and recording three saves.

The Toreros return to action on Sunday when they host No. 19 Oklahoma at Torero Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. match.