SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State women's soccer team fell in the final minutes on Tuesday afternoon in its home opener, 1-0, to versus Hawai'i Hilo.
- The Gators (0-3) outshot the Vulcans (15-14), including 6-4 when it came to shots on goal.
- Of the 15 shots, nine different SF State players attempted a shot.
- The Gators also held a 4-2 corner kick advantage.
The Vulcans' Filippa Graneld scored the deciding goal in the 88th minute. She shook a pair of defenders, stepped back, and launched a golazo from the top left of the box and buried it in the upper v of the far post.
The Gators had several opportunities throughout. Nicki Friedman had a shot saved in the fifth minute and the Gators thought they scored on a Kyle Schneider ball early in the first half but the play was whistled offside. SF State also avoided trouble in the 43rd minute when Daeleen Tokunaga hit a shot off the right post and Marcella Salyer made a save to keep it scoreless headed into halftime. SF State had back-to-back attempts in the 54th and 55th minutes but Julia Hagedorn and Sydney Vidos both had their shots saved.
Marcella Salyer made two saves but had to be helped off the field by the training staff in the 65th minute. Salyer came out to contest a shot and successfully disrupted the shot but was caught in the side of the head by a knee from her own defender, who was tracking the ball and didn't see Salyer in time. The first shot went off the right post and the rebound was blocked. Iliana Gallegos tended net the final 25 minutes and made one save, as well as allowed the UHH goal in the 98th minute, though there wasn't much she could do to stop it.
"Today was a heartbreaking early-season loss for this young team," said Head Coach John DeMartini. "We're going through rowing pains but we are also learning valuable lessons in these non-conference matches."
SF State hosts Holy Names on Saturday, September 11 at noon. Fans are permitted but are required to wear face coverings while in Athletics facilities and indoors on the SF State campus. The match will also be broadcast for free on the CCAA Network with live stats available at sfstategators.com. Updates will also be available on Twitter at @sfstate_wsoc.
