SAN JOSE, Calif. – In their first road game of the season, the Gaels bounced back from their loss to the Cal Bears last Thursday with a resounding 3-0 win against the San Jose State Spartans.
 
FLYING OUT THE GATES
Saint Mary's wasted absolutely no time getting on the scoreboard, managing to score two goals within the first three minutes of the game. Goalkeeper Taylor Poland notched her first ever Gaels assist, as she booted the ball long into the path of Emily Jensen. Jensen then played a great ball to Tessa Salvestrin, who controlled the ball, wriggled her way through two defenders, before launching a left footed shot into the bottom left corner of the Spartans goal to make it 1-0 SMC just 1:16 into the game.
 
The Gaels didn't waste any time getting their second goal of the game either, scoring just a minute and twenty seconds after the opener. This time, Saint Mary's expertly passed their way through the Spartans midfield, with freshman Alessandra Towle leading the charge. Towle burst through the midfield before finding Nayeli Diaz, who laid the ball off to Emily Jensen. Jensen controlled the ball with her left foot, before forcing a left footed shot past the keeper to make it 2-0 Saint Mary's.
 
GAME MANAGEMENT
After scoring twice inside three minutes, the Gaels settled into the half, still searching for more goals, but more than happy to sit back and defend. The first concrete chance came for the opposition in the 36^th minute, when the Spartans managed to hit Taylor Poland's crossbar. San Jose kept the pressure on for the remainder of the first half, forcing a handful of great saves from Poland. 
 
Emma Barthel came up huge for the Gaels in the 40^th minute, blocking a wide-open shot that certainly would've put the Spartans on the board if she hadn't intervened. 
 
OPEN OPPORTUNITIES
The second half proved to be as exciting as the first, as both teams continued to bring the offensive pressure. The Spartans controlled possession, pinning the Gaels back into their box. San Jose hit crossbar again in both the 50^th and 58^th minute, but Saint Mary's remained composed, creating a few chances of their own through Nayeli Diaz and Tessa Salvestrin. 
 
The Gaels finished the Spartans off in the 75^th minute, with Emily Jensen notching her second of the game. This time, Savannah Schwarze made an excellent pass to Jensen, who managed to blast the ball into the net to make it 3-0 Saint Mary's. 
 
Jensen has now scored four goals in four games this season for the Gaels.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will take on the Texas Tech Red Raider on Sunday, September 4 at 12 pm. The Red Raiders are coming off a 1-1 draw against New Mexico, and are 1-1-2 on the season thus far.