TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Wildcats (2-2-0) pulled out a 3-2 victory over Cal State Northridge (1-5-0) on day two of the Arizona State Desert Classic. Back-to-back goals early in the first half were just the start of Arizona's lead with a game winner coming in the 36th minute to secure the match for the Cats. The three goals included a career first goal, a career first assist, a first goal of the season, a first assist of the season, a season first brace and a place in the program history record book. At the conclusion of the match the Wildcats had dominated offensively, outshooting the Matadors 21-10 with an on-goal comparison of 17-7. Keeper Hope Hisey was able to make four saves, increasing her total to 16 on the season.
Arizona Goals
12' Jill Aguilera
13' Desiree Foster
36' Jill Aguilera
Plays of the match - Brace Yourself
Forward Jill Aguilera was on fire against the Matadors, achieving multiple impressive feats. In the 12th minute of match play, off a perfectly placed pass by freshman Gianna Christiansen, Aguilera was able to sink in a shot from just outside the penalty box. This goal was her first of the season and moved her to tie for third in program history in career goals (25). Additionally, this was Christiansen's first career assist.
11' - @gchristiansen03 ? @jill_aguilera = our first goal of the day ????#BearDown pic.twitter.com/elSEHXY8LM
— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) September 5, 2021
Aguilera did not stop there, the redshirt senior came back 20 minutes later to score what would become the game-winning goal. After dribbling yet another pass from freshman Gianna Christiansen, Aguilera was able to find an abundance of space to get the ball past the CSUN keeper. This goal solidified her first brace of the season, the win for the Wildcats, and her spot as the third highest career goal scorer in UA history (26).
35' - An absolutely ???????????? goal from @jill_aguilera increases Arizona's lead to 3?
?? Pac-12 Networks
Arizona 3, CSUN 1 pic.twitter.com/rpxPaS7n9o
— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) September 5, 2021
Players of the match - Season of Firsts
The match against the Matadors signified multiple firsts for the Wildcat underclassmen. Just one minute after Gianna Christiansen earned her first career assist, freshman Desiree Foster and Sophomore Jordan Hall made on outstanding play. In the 13th minute, Hall made a cross that was saved and deflected by the CSUN keeper. The deflection was sent straight to the feet of Desiree Foster who quickly sent in the goal. This marks Hall's first assist of the season and Foster's first goal of her career.
12' - Would you believe us if we said that, less than ?????? ???????????? later, Desiree Foster scored our ???????????? goal off the day with an assist from @jordanhrhall ????
Arizona 2, CSUN 0 pic.twitter.com/Ys68dvPu6K
— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) September 5, 2021
By The Numbers
3 - After her brace against CSUN, Jill Aguilera has moved into third place for career goals in program history with 26 goals in her fives years of playing at Arizona.
7 - This is Jill Aguilera's seventh career brace in her time at Arizona.
81 - The Wildcats earned a SOG% of .810 against CSUN with 17 of their 21 shots being on goal. This is the highest SOG% for a single game since Oct. 2017 and the most SOG since well before then.
Up Next
The Wildcats will head back to Tucson to host Texas Tech, Nebraska and Arizona State in their first tournament of the season. The Cats will take on Texas Tech on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. MST and Nebraska on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. MST at Mulcahy Stadium.
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