Feb. 21, 2003
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's water polo team made its 2003 home opener a memorable one, scoring four third-quarter goals en route to a 9-4 victory over No. 8 San Jose State. It was the first-ever game for the seventh-ranked Aztecs (4-3, 1-2 MPSF) at their new home pool, the Ray and Joan Kroc Center, and they used the advantage to gain their first conference win of the season.
Three goals by junior 2-meter Holly Hartzell (Vista, Calif./Fallbrook HS) and two by senior utility Casey Finnegan (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) supported a strong defensive effort that held the Spartans scoreless over the final 10 minutes, 14 seconds and the stellar play in goal of Sara Daseler (Lodi, Calif./Hartwick).
"Sara played well for us," head coach Carin Crawford said. "She made 12 saves and stopped a lot of tough shots."
The third quarter, which had been the Aztecs' downfall in being outscored in the period 7-1 over their first two conference games, was a strength today. SDSU broke open a 4-3 halftime lead by scoring the first two goals of the third quarter. Senior Amber Prestegard (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS) delivered a perfect outlet pass to senior driver Heidi Matsumoto (Grover Beach, Calif./Arroyo Grande HS), who converted her first goal of the season with 6:00 remaining in the third. On their next possession, the Aztecs worked the shot clock down before Finnegan made an entry pass into Hartzell that the junior converted for her third goal of the game.
The Spartans countered with a Christine Welsh goal to make it 6-4 and had another chance on the next possession, but Daseler made a terrific stop of Welsh's blind backhand shot. SDSU went on to score the last two goals of the period to take a commanding 8-4 advantage into the fourth, where they would extend to the final margin of 9-4.
Hartzell's three goals give her a total of 15 for the year. Prestegard was kept off the scoreboard for only the second time this season but assisted on each of the Aztecs' last three goals.
The Spartans received one goal each from four different players. Goalie Nichole Lipman made nine saves.
SDSU returns to action Saturday, March 1, across town at UC San Diego's Mini Tourney.
No. 7 SAN DIEGO STATE 9, No. 8 San Jose State 4Ray and Joan Kroc Center, San Diego, Calif.
SCORING SUMMARY:GOAL Quarter Time Team ## Goal Scorer----------------------------------------- 1. 1st 6:04 SJSU 3 Jessica Levine (9) 2. 1st 4:23 SDSU 5 CASEY FINNEGAN (11) 3. 2nd 2:34 SDSU 14 HOLLY HARTZELL (13) 4. 2nd 2:21 SJSU 4 Beth Harberts [Penalty Shot] (10) 5. 2nd 2:06 SDSU 9 SANDY ONWELLER (5) 6. 2nd 1:22 SJSU 14 Katie Morgan (8) 7. 2nd 1:11 SDSU 14 HOLLY HARTZELL (14) 8. 3rd 6:00 SDSU 4 HEIDI MATSUMOTO (1) 9. 3rd 5:04 SDSU 14 HOLLY HARTZELL (15)10. 3rd 3:16 SJSU 7 Christine Welsh (13)11. 3rd 1:12 SDSU 6 DOMINIQUE DELGADO (5)12. 3rd 0:28 SDSU 11 CHELSY SMITH (3)13. 4th 6:40 SDSU 4 CASEY FINNEGAN (12)
San Jose State Goals: Levine, Harberts, Morgan, WelshSan Jose State Saves: Lipman 9
SDSU GOALS: Finnegan 3, Hartzell 3, Delgado, Matsumoto, Onweller, SmithSDSU GOALIE SAVES: Daseler 12