April 13, 2003
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The eighth-ranked San Diego State women's water polo team proved it was game for stiff competition in the second day of action at the Long Beach Tournament, but the higher-ranked foes emerged victorious. The Aztecs dropped both games in winners' bracket play, falling 10-5 to No. 3 USC and succumbing in overtime to host No. 4 Long Beach State, 12-11.
The Aztecs (17-11 overall) swept through three games yesterday against lower-ranked opponents by the combined score of 36-19 en route to winning the Group C bracket. But MPSF leader USC proved too much in today's early contest, breaking open a one-goal contest after the first quarter, and the fourth-ranked 49ers avenged an overtime loss to the Aztecs earlier in the season by recording one of their own today.
In the day's first game, the Aztecs hung with the third-ranked Women of Troy for the first quarter, trailing only 3-2, but USC scored four goals in the second quarter. Liz Simms scored one of her three goals on the day to give the Women of Troy a 7-3 lead going into halftime, and USC coasted from there to the 10-5 victory. Moriah Van Norman scored four goals in the winning effort, while SDSU was led offensively by the tandem of junior 2-meter Holly Hartzell (Vista, Calif./Fallbrook HS) and senior utility Amber Prestegard (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS), who each had two goals on the day.
Kelly Graff (6 saves) and Sarah Mix (2 saves) split time in the cage for USC, while Aztec junior goalie Ashley Zabel (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) registered six saves.
The Aztecs claimed a 6-5 overtime win over Long Beach - SDSU's first victory over a top-four team in three years - in a defensive struggle back at the season-opening UC San Diego Arena Invitational. Today's contest, while also decided in extra time, was a much different game and resulted in a shootout. The teams matched each other goal-for-goal after each of the first two quarters before the Aztecs claimed a 7-6 lead following the third period. The 49ers then scored three of the five fourth-quarter goals to force overtime.
SDSU and LBSU traded pairs of goals in overtime before The Beach's Ashley Richardson scored the game-winner with 32 seconds remaining.
The Aztecs received their familiar scoring balance with five different players tallying two goals each. Roberta Stewart led LBSU with four goals. Zabel made six saves for the Aztecs and The Beach's Bri Hawkins tallied seven saves.
SDSU's big three offensive threats - Hartzell, Prestegard and senior utility Casey Finnegan (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) - each scored 10 goals in the five games of the tournament. Finnegan's play was rewarded with selection to the all-tournament team.
The Aztecs play their regular season finale with the second annual Harper Cup match against cross-town rival UC San Diego on April 19. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center.
April 13, 2003 - Long Beach State Tournament Day 2
Aztecs Game 1: No. 3 USC 10, No. 8 SAN DIEGO STATE 5Pool II, Long Beach, Calif. 1 2 3 4 TotalUSC 3 4 1 2 10San Diego St. 2 1 0 2 5
USC Goals: Van Norman 4, Simms 3, Madrid, Kocsis, KonoukhSDSU Goals: Hartzell 2, Prestegard 2, Delgado
USC Goalie Saves: Graff 6, Mix 2SDSU Goalie Saves: Zabel 6
Aztecs Game 2: No. 4 Long Beach State 12, No. 8 SAN DIEGO STATE 11 (ot)Pool II, Long Beach, Calif. 1 2 3 4 OT TotalSan Diego St. 3 2 2 2 2 11Long Beach St. 3 2 1 3 3 12
SDSU Goals: Delgado 2, Finnegan 2, Hartzell 2, Matsumoto 2, Prestegard 2, OnwellerLBSU Goals: Stewart 4, Braden 3, Richardson 2, Campbell, Garcia, Wawrynski
SDSU Goalie Saves: Zabel 6LBSU Goalie Saves: Hawkins 7