Duran is a particular asset defending set pieces.  Her 5-11 frame consistently makes her the tallest player on the field.

“At first it seems like kind of a panic situation because our defense is all really close,” Griffin said. “I think that for [playing a team] the caliber of L.A., we adjusted pretty quickly.”

Momentum shifted in the final ten minutes of the half.  The Gators had a handful of scoring opportunities.

The most significant came when junior midfielder Nicole Vanni passed a perfect low header to a streaking Kyleah Rozario, who was fighting a defender on her hip a few feet from goal.  Rozario managed to beat the keeper with a lunging toe touch, but the shot went just inches wide.

The teams ended the half 0-0, with each looking capable of taking control of the matchup.

SF State had a number of scoring chances in the second half.  Quality looks for Vanni, Rozario, and sophomore defender Kaitlin Dick all failed to put the Gators on the board.

“We he a couple of opportunities that we didn’t put away… we’ve got to put them in the net,” Hyde said.

The Gators appeared to be the better team for much of the second half.  They controlled possession, set up scoring chances and played staunch defense.  Then came the penalty and all that work was for naught.

“That’s the game of soccer.  The ref can always have an effect,” Harrington said.

The Gators created some real scoring chances as the game dwindled away.  No score was to come, however, and SF State lost their second game this week.

Sunday marked the end of a seven-game homestand for SF State.  They travel to Cal State East Bay on Friday Oct 7 for their first away game in nearly a month.