Feb. 14, 2003
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Fourth-ranked Long Beach State took advantage of Aztec turnovers and scored four unanswered third-quarter goals in claiming a 10-4 victory over No. 7 San Diego State in the Valentine's Day conference opener for both teams at LBSU's Campus Pool.
With the win, LBSU (4-1 overall, 1-0 MPSF) avenges a 6-5 overtime loss to SDSU (3-2 overall, 0-1) in the final game of last weekend's UC San Diego Arena Invitational. That was the Aztecs' first victory over a top-four ranked team in five seasons and their second straight over Long Beach when it was ranked among the top five, but SDSU could not duplicate the feat today.
After a 2-2 opening period, the 49ers outscored the Aztecs 8-2 over the final three quarters to claim victory. Still, it was a narrow 4-3 LBSU lead going into the third quarter before The Beach erupted.
"It was pretty even for the first half," Aztec head coach Carin Crawford said. "We just had a bad third quarter with turnovers all over the pool and they took advantage of it."
Senior Amber Prestegard (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS) continued her early goal-scoring onslaught by pacing the Aztecs with three scores. The lefty utility player, who stands third on SDSU's all-time goal-scoring chart with 190, leads the team with 14 goals through five games.
Senior utility Casey Finnegan (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) scored the Aztecs' other goal, while junior goalkeeper Ashley Zabel (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) made four saves.
The Aztecs face another top-four ranked team when they continue MPSF play tomorrow at No. 3 USC, which entered the weekend 5-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Game time is set for 10 a.m.
MPSF Women's Water PoloNo. 4 Long Beach State 10, No. 7 SAN DIEGO STATE 4Campus Pool, Long Beach, Calif.
SDSU GOALS: Prestegard 3, FinneganSDSU GOALIE SAVES: Zabel 6