April 14, 2007
LOS ANGELES - The sixth-ranked San Diego State water polo team ran into a buzz saw on Saturday, falling to No. 3 USC, 17-5, in a Mountain Pacific Sport Federation clash at McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles. With the loss, the Aztecs drop to 24-6 on the season and 7-3 in the MPSF, while the Women of Troy raise their record to 15-4 overall and 9-2 in conference play.
Trailing 4-2 entering the second quarter, SDSU was unable to contain a potent USC attack as the home team exploded for five goals to build an insurmountable 9-3 lead by intermission. The Women of Troy kept up the pressure in the second half with eight additional scores en route to handing the Aztecs just their second defeat in 19 games.
Freshman Danielle Pelke (Los Alamitos, Calif.) had two goals for SDSU, while senior Stacy Werner, sophomore Jenna Schuster (Upland, Calif.) and redshirt freshman Jamie Vessey (Redlands, Calif.) each added single tallies. Schuster's strike in the first quarter extended her scoring streak to 23 games and gave her 66 goals on the season, which surpassed Rachel Serna's 65 scores in 2005 for the eighth-highest season total in school history.
Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Sarah Kilgore (Rossmoor, Calif.) had six blocks for the Scarlet and Black before giving way to junior Heather Fenske (Lompoc, Calif.), who posted one save of her own.
San Diego State returns to action on Friday, April 20 when it plays host to second-ranked UCLA at the Aztec Aquaplex. Opening sprint is scheduled for 3 p.m. PDT.
#3 USC 17, #6 SAN DIEGO STATE 5
McDonald's Swim Stadium
Los Angleles, Calif.
San Diego State 2-1-1-1--5
USC 4-5-3-5--17
San Diego State goals: Danielle Pelke 2, Jenna Schuster, Stacy Werner, Jamie Vessey
USC goals: Kami Craig 4, Michelle Stein 2, Patty Cardenas 2, Miranda Nichols 2, Erika Figge 2, Alexandra Kiss 2, Forel Davies, Carolyn Conway, Jordan Anae
San Diego State goalie saves: Sarah Kilgore - 6, Heather Fenske 1
USC goalie saves: Whitney Morgan - 10