March 1, 2003
LA JOLLA - The seventh-ranked San Diego State women's water polo team swept a pair of games today at UC San Diego's Canyonview Pool, winning 13-5 over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and defeating the host Tritons, 8-4.
In the first game, the Aztecs were able to rest their starters and let the reserves shine in jumping out to a 6-0 first-quarter lead over the Div. III Athenas. SDSU was sparked in the opening period by three goals on perfect 3-for-3 shooting by junior utility Chelsy Smith (Roseville, Calif./Sierra College) and a pair of scores from freshman driver Rachel Serna (Coronado, Calif./Coronado HS).
By halftime the score was 9-1 and SDSU cruised from there on out. Sixteen players saw at least two quarters of pool time and eight different Aztecs found their way into the scoring ledger, including the first collegiate goals by freshmen Alyssa Banks (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS) and Veronica Ortega (El Cajon, Calif./El Cajon Valley HS). Junior Ashley Zabel (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) made the start in the cage and recorded a pair of saves in two quarters while allowing only one goal. Junior goalie Sara Daseler (Lodi, Calif./Hartwick) played the second half and was credited with five saves.
In game two, the Aztecs won their third straight overall and knocked off a top-10 team for the third time this season with an 8-4 defeat of No. 9 UC San Diego. SDSU (6-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second quarter as junior 2-meter Holly Hartzell (Vista, Calif./Fallbrook HS) scored three of the first four goals. The Aztecs maintained at least a four-goal edge the rest of the way and led 8-2 early in the third period before the Tritons scored the final two goals of the game.
Hartzell ended up with four goals to give her a team-leading total of 19 for the season. Senior utility Casey Finnegan (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) kept her streak alive of scoring in each game played this season with a pair of tallies, and Smith and senior driver Heidi Matsumoto (Grover Beach, Calif./Arroyo Grande HS) notched the Aztecs' other scores. Senior Amber Prestegard (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS) was kept off the scoreboard but added a team-high three assists for her second straight game. Zabel completed a strong afternoon of action by registering nine saves.
SDSU returns to action on Thursday, March 6, by playing host to MPSF rival UC Irvine at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
Game 1: No. 7 San Diego State 13, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5SCORE BY QUARTERS: 1 2 3 4 TOTSan Diego State (5-3) 6 3 2 2 13Claremont (0-3) 0 1 2 2 5
SDSU Goals: Rachel Serna 3, Chelsy Smith 3, Taylor Cranney 2,Veronica Ortega, Donna Stivers, Brenna Wylie, Susan Stivers, Alyssa Banks.
CMS Goals: Annie Richardson 4, Jillian Kurvers.
Goalie Saves: Ashley Zabel (SDSU) 2, Sara Daseler (SDSU) 5; Shannon Kelley (CMS) 8.
Game 2: No. 7 San Diego State 8, No. 9 UC San Diego 4SCORE BY QUARTERS: 1 2 3 4 TOTSan Diego State (6-3) 3 3 2 0 8UC San Diego (10-3) 0 2 1 1 4
SDSU Goals: Holly Hartzell 4, Casey Finnegan 2, Heidi Matsumoto, ChelsySmith.
UCSD Goals: Miranda Paulson 2, Samara Silverman, Danielle Bourret.
Goalie Saves: Ashley Zabel (SDSU) 8; Kaitlin Foe (UCSD) 6.