April 12, 2007
SAN DIEGO - Sophomores Anna Gonzales (Fresno, Calif.) and Jenna Schuster (Upland, Calif.) each posted hat tricks on Thursday, leading the sixth-ranked San Diego State water polo team to an 11-4 victory over No. 7 UC Irvine in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game at the Aztec Aquaplex. Senior Stacy Werner (Lodi, Calif.) and sophomore Erinn Greenwood (Sanger, Calif.) also scored two goals apiece to help SDSU raise its record to 24-5 overall and 7-2 in league play. Meanwhile with the loss, the Anteaters fall to 16-9 on the season and 3-7 in the MPSF.
The Scarlet and Black assumed control from the beginning when Gonzales took a cross-court pass from Werner and drilled a shot into the left side of the cage at the 5:36 mark of the opening period. Shortly thereafter, the Aztec utility player connected once again, beating Anteater goalkeeper Lauren Machanis with a long-range bullet from the 7-meter mark. With time winding down in the quarter, Greenwood gave the home team a 3-0 advantage after scoring from the right wing during a 6-on-5 opportunity.
The pace of the game quickened considerably as both teams combined for seven scores in the second period. Despite a three-goal outburst from UCI's Gianna Rossi, SDSU maintained the upper hand throughout the quarter thanks to single tallies by Greenwood, Werner and Gonzales. Schuster also got into the act with 1:24 remaining before intermission, converting a short pass from Werner on a breakaway, which extended her scoring streak to 22 games.
With a 7-3 lead entering the second half, the Aztecs turned up the heat on a blustery afternoon, limiting the Anteaters to just a single goal for the rest of the game. SDSU sandwiched scores by Schuster and Werner around Rossi's fourth tally of the game to put the game virtually out of reach at 9-4 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Scarlet and Black added some insurance in the final frame as Schuster completed her hat trick after redirecting a Greenwood pass from the perimeter at the 6:28 mark. Freshman Danielle Pelke (Los Alamitos, Calif.) then found the back of the net with 21 seconds remaining as the Aztecs avenged an 8-7 loss to UCI earlier this season.
In addition to her three goals, Gonzales displayed her defensive prowess by recording a career-high six steals. Werner was also a force on both sides of the ball, posting four takeaways of her own and chipping in with four assists. Meanwhile in front of the cage, senior goalkeeper Sarah Kilgore (Rossmoor, Calif.) logged her 14th double-digit save effort of the season after blocking 13 Anteater shots.
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday, April 14, when it travels north to face No. 3 USC in another MPSF clash at McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles. Opening sprint is scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT.
#6 SAN DIEGO STATE 11, #7 UC IRVINE 4
April 12, 2007
Aztec Aquaplex--San Diego, Calif.
UC Irvine 0-3-1-0--4
San Diego State 3-4-2-2--11
UC Irvine goals: Gianna Rossi 4
San Diego State goals: Anna Gonzales 3, Jenna Schuster 3, Erinn Greenwood 2, Stacy Werner 2, Danielle Pelke
UC Irvine goalie saves: Lauren Machanis - 9
San Diego State goalie saves: Sarah Kilgore - 13