LA JOLLA — August 12, 2026

San Diego State’s women’s soccer team wasted no time making a statement in its first season as a Pac-12 program, blanking UC San Diego 2-0 on the road Wednesday night at Triton Soccer Stadium in the annual Crosstown Derby.

The two sides played a tight, scoreless first 20 minutes with neither team able to test the frame of the goal. That changed in the 22nd minute, when freshman Kenny Moore pushed the ball forward from near midfield, linked up with Katie Senn, and got it right back before curling a left-footed finish from the top of the box past the UCSD keeper for the game’s opening goal — and her first as an Aztec.

SDSU’s Kailey Carlen came up big just before the half, diving to deny a shot from UCSD’s Olivia Schiel in the 42nd minute to preserve the one-goal cushion into the break.

The Aztecs came out of halftime and put the game away less than ten minutes later. Carlen made another stop in the 54th minute, and moments after that Victoria Miller stripped a Triton defender at the top of the box, danced around the onrushing UCSD keeper, and slotted home to make it 2-0 in the 55th minute.

UC San Diego pushed for a response late, with Ellie Trevino picking up a yellow card in the 82nd minute, but Carlen and the Aztec back line held firm. Carlen closed the night with a clutch stop on Ava Tibor in the 88th minute to seal the shutout.

San Diego State finished with the edge in saves (4-1), shots (9-7), and corner kicks (5-3), while UC San Diego held a slim advantage in shots on goal (4-3).

A Debut for the Ages

Moore’s opening goal made her the first Aztec to score in her San Diego State debut since Claire Watkins did it in the pandemic-delayed 2020 season opener — a season that didn’t actually kick off until the following spring, when Watkins scored the game-winner against Nevada on March 5, 2021.

She wasn’t the only newcomer to leave a mark. Freshmen Alannah Gonzales, KK Chowana-Bandhu, and Eva Wierzbowski all made their collegiate debuts, while transfers Naima Castro and Eva Wees joined Moore in making their first starts in Aztec red and black.

Up Next

San Diego State (1-0) brings the party home for its Pac-12 debut on campus, hosting Washington next Wednesday, August 19, at 7 p.m. Admission is free, early arrivals get silicone bracelets, and the match streams live on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.

The View From UC San Diego

For the Tritons, the season opener marked another step forward in a new era — UC San Diego is building toward its second season as an NCAA Division I member of the Big West. Freshman Ava Tibor led UCSD’s offense with two shots on goal, while Kat Harris and Olivia Schiel each put a shot on frame. Redshirt sophomore keeper Charlotte Wilfert played all 90 minutes in goal, and the Tritons actually edged the Aztecs on the shots-on-goal column, 4-3, despite the shutout loss.

UCSD head coach Kristin Jones struck an optimistic tone afterward, pointing to the team’s execution on the game plan and its room to grow as the season develops.

The Tritons didn’t have long to dwell on the result. They were back on the field three days later, hosting Utah Tech on August 15.