MORAGA, Calif. – After their 1-1 draw with James Madison on Thursday, Saint Mary's Women's Soccer were back on home turf Sunday afternoon as they faced off against the San Jose State Spartans. 
 
The Gaels dominated San Jose State for the second season in a row, with goals coming from Savannah Schwarze and Michaela Romo.
 
EARLY DOINK
The Gaels nearly started off the match in perfect fashion, as a misplaced pass from the Spartans in the 2^ndminute found the feet of Briana Salvetti. Salvetti let loose a strong left footed shot that flew past the goalkeeper, squarely hitting the crossbar. 
 
Despite narrowly finding themselves down a goal, the Spartans did well to compose themselves, forcing a few early half chances of their own. 
 
The Spartans nearly caught the Gaels off guard in the 13^th minute with a lightning quick counterattack that ended up with the ball in the back of the net. Thankfully for the Gaels, the Spartans goal scorer was narrowly offsides and the goal did not stand. 
 
It was a wakeup call for Saint Mary's, who had allowed the Spartans to slowly grow into the game. After some early chances for both sides, the game began to become possession dependent, as the Gaels kept patiently searching for the key pass to unlock the San Jose defense.
 
CONTROLLING THE FLOW
Saint Mary's nearly broke the deadlock in the 29^th minute after a great spell of possession. A cross from Michaela Romo found the feet of Kyllie Glock on the right side of the box. Glock left off a right footed shot that went through the legs of the Spartans defender, but the San Jose keeper did well to read the shot and stop the Gaels from taking the first half lead. 
 
The Spartans did well to respond, forcing their first shot on target in the 33^rd minute. The shot had plenty of accuracy, but not enough power to trouble Isabella Banuelos in her first start in goal of the season. 
 
Saint Mary's finally found the breakthrough in the 35^th minute, when the Gaels perfectly passed their way through the Spartans defense. A precise pass from Emily Jensen down the right side of the field found Briana Salvetti, who crossed the ball to a wide open Savannah Schwarze in the box. Schwarze let loose a right footed shot that found the top right corner to give SMC the 1-0 lead in the 35^th minute. 
 
The Spartans looked to quickly respond and tie up the game before half, but the Gaels had other ideas. Saint Mary's had a handful of half chances to double their lead before the end of the first half, but a positive opening 45 minutes had SMC leading at the break. 
 
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
Saint Mary's got off to a dream start in the 2^nd half, as the Gaels quickly found themselves up 2-0. This time, Kyllie Glock played a great pass forward to Michaela Romo. Romo originally lost possession, but she battled her way back, repossessed the ball, and found herself free of the Spartans defender and one on one with the keeper. She kept her composure and slotted the ball in the right corner of the net to give SMC the 2-0 lead in the 48^th minute. 
 
The Spartans eagerly tried to get a goal back, but Isabella Banuelos had other ideas, as she made a great diving save to her left in the 50^th minute to keep the advantage at 2-0. 
 
Saint Mary's were in cruise control following Romo's goal as they continued to push forward and look for a third. 
 
A flurry of chances came the Gaels way, but they weren't able to capitalize on any of them. The first came via Briana Salvetti in the 67^th minute, but once again her right footed shot unluckily caught the post. 
 
The Spartans goalkeeper completely misjudged the pass as ball sailed over her head. Salvetti found herself with a wide-open net 20 yards out, but her shot coasted just wide. 
 
The next opportunity for SMC came just three minutes later, as Savannah Schwarze played a great pass down the line to Briana Salvetti. Salvetti then played a long looping cross to the back post towards freshman Sydney Middaugh. Middaugh connected well with the header but her effort went just wide of the post. The Gaels eagerly searched for a third to put the game to bed, but it wasn't meant to be.
 
Michaela Romo nearly got her second of the match in the 74^th minute, as she pounced on a Spartans defenders mistake, finding herself one on one with the keeper. She let loose a right footed shot, but it squarely hit the left goal post, denying the freshman of a brace. 
 
Saint Mary's were in cruise control the remaining 15 minutes, as the saw out the match for their third win of the season. 
 
NEXT UP
The Gaels will hit the road this upcoming week as they'll travel up north to face off against Washington State on Thursday, September 7 before taking on Eastern Washington on Sunday, September 10.