Water Polo

SDSU Water Polo Gears Up for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance; Faces Loyola Marymount in First Round

SDSU Water Polo Gears Up for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance; Faces Loyola Marymount in First RoundSDSU Water Polo Gears Up for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance; Faces Loyola Marymount in First Round

May 9, 2007

SAN DIEGO -

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SDSU Water Polo Gears Up for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance; Faces Loyola Marymount in First Round

  • San Diego State (28-8) begins its quest for a national title this weekend when it heads north for the 2007 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships, May 11-13, in Los Alamitos, Calif. The Aztecs, who secured an at-large berth, are seeded fourth in the eight-team field and will square off against No. 5 seed Loyola Marymount (26-5) in their opening-round match, beginning at 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday, May 11. SDSU will make its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance at the Joint Forces Training Base, which is home to the USA Water Polo National Aquatic Center.

If the Aztecs emerge victorious over the Lions, they will take on the winner of the Stanford-Wagner game in the semifinals on Saturday, May 12, starting at 5 p.m. If SDSU stumbles, it will lock horns with the loser of the Cardinal-Seahawks showdown at 1:30 p.m. that same day. The national championship game will be contested at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, and will be telecast live on College Sports Television (CSTV).

The NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship was established in 2001. UCLA has captured four tournament crowns (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), while Stanford (2002) and USC (2004) have claimed one title apiece. Prior to NCAA sponsorship in 2001, San Diego State competed in the Collegiate National Championships for six consecutive seasons from 1995-2000. The Aztecs' best showing in the defunct tournament was a runner-up finish in 1995, the program's first year of varsity competition. SDSU cruised to four straight wins before dropping an 8-7 heartbreaker to Slippery Rock in the championship finals. The Scarlet and Black also placed third in 1996 and 1997.

Rewind: 2007 MPSF Championship

  • San Diego State posted a 3-1 record en route a fifth-place finish at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, April 26-29, at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe, Ariz. The fifth-seeded Aztecs opened the tournament with a hard-fought 13-11 victory over No. 12 seed UC Santa Barbara in the first round as Stacy Werner and Anna Gonzales each netted hat tricks. Late in the fourth quarter, Werner and Danielle Pelke tallied crucial scores, while goalkeeper Sarah Kilgore snuffed out the Gauchos last threat with a blocked penalty shot.

With the win, SDSU advanced to face fourth-seeded Hawai'i in the quarterfinals where it was looking to avenge a 10-9 overtime loss to the Rainbow Wahine in Honolulu on Feb. 16. Unlike the previous seesaw affair, the Aztecs were forced to play catch-up for most of the contest after falling behind, 5-1, in the first quarter. The Scarlet and Black narrowed the gap to 6-4 with just over three minutes remaining before intermission, but would get no closer as Hawai'i erupted for 12 goals in the second half to put the game out of reach. Despite a career-high seven goals from Jenna Schuster, the SDSU defense could not contain the Wahine's three-headed attack of Angela Turnbull, Kristy Bagnall and Kelly Mason, who combined for 13 of UH's 19 goals.

Relegated to the consolation bracket, the Aztecs picked themselves off the mat with a grueling overtime win over No. 9 seed UC Irvine its third game of the weekend. SDSU took a 7-5 advantage into the fourth period when the Anteaters rallied with three straight goals to pull ahead, 8-7, by the 2:47 mark. With 1:33 left in regulation, Erinn Greenwood provided the equalizer to give the Aztecs new life. After both teams traded scores in the first overtime, Werner nailed the game-winner from 7-meters in the second extra session with 46 seconds remaining on the clock.

The stage was then set for the fifth-place match against sixth-seeded San Jose State, whom the Scarlet and Black defeated in the second-ever game at the Aztec Aquaplex on March 3. Bolstered by Greenwood's sixth hat trick of the season, SDSU capped off the tournament with a 10-6 conquest of the Spartans. The Aztecs got balanced scoring from six other players, while Danielle Pelke anchored a stellar defensive effort with seven steals. With the victory, SDSU posted its highest finish at the MPSF Championship since the 2003 season when it also placed fifth.

Loyola Marymount at a Glance

  • The Lions earned the Western Water Polo Association's automatic bid the NCAA Tournament with a 6-5 overtime thriller over UC Davis in the WWPA championship final on April 29 in Santa Cruz, Calif. With the victory, Loyola Marymount has won 18 of its last 19 matches, including tournament titles at the Michigan Invitational, March 17-18, and the LMU Invitational, April 13-14.

The Lions are led by utility player Stacia Peterson, who has amassed 60 goals on the season, shooting at a torrid .645 clip. The LMU senior has been a defensive force as well, ranking second on the squad with 57 steals. The Lions also boast a pair of 50-goal scorers in sophomore Nicole Hughes (56) and senior Cara Colton (50). Meanwhile in front of the net, USDHS alumna Kaylee Caster has turned away 278 shots and possesses a 6.84 goals-against average in 31 games.

At the helm for Loyola Marymount is 10th-year head coach John Loughran, who guided the Lions to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2001-05, including the 2004 championship final where LMU lost to USC, 10-8.

Series History vs. the Lions

  • Loyola Marymount owns a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1998 with the Lions and Aztecs splitting their two meetings earlier this season - both at neutral sites. LMU posted an 8-6 upset of the Scarlet and Black in the finals of the UCSD Triton Invitational on Feb. 11. Despite a hat trick from Anna Gonzales, SDSU was unable to overcome a three-goal deficit en route to its first loss of the 2007 campaign. The Aztecs exacted a measure of revenge two weeks later, however, when they rallied for an overtime victory by an identical 8-6 count in the consolation bracket of the UC Irvine Invitational on Feb. 25. Trailing 5-4 late the fourth period, San Diego State forced overtime when Gonzales found the back of the net with 18 seconds left in regulation. SDSU then outscored LMU, 3-1, during the two extra sessions to claim the rematch.

The Rest of the Field at a Glance

  • Below is a look at other possible opponents the Aztecs could face in the NCAA Tournament. Seedings and season records are in parentheses.

(1) STANFORD (25-2): Despite dropping a 9-3 decision to UCLA in the MPSF finals, the Cardinal still earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Stanford defeated SDSU, 14-8, in the inaugural game at the Aztec Aquaplex on March 2. The Cardinal broke open a tight 9-7 contest late in the third quarter, scoring five straight goals to pull away for the victory. Stanford holds a 19-9 lead in the all-time series.

(2) UCLA (25-2): The Bruins secured the MPSF's automatic bid with their aforementioned upset of Stanford. UCLA won the only meeting against San Diego State this year, 14-6, at a rain-soaked Aztec Aquaplex on April 21. SDSU pulled to within 6-4 midway through the second quarter until the visitors struck back with three quick goals to take a commanding 9-4 halftime lead. The Aztecs are 3-28 all-time vs. the Bruins.

(3) USC (20-5): The Women of Troy received the MPSF's second at-large bid after a third-place finish in the conference tournament. The Aztecs suffered their largest margin of defeat during the 2007 campaign when USC blitzed the Scarlet and Black, 17-5, in Los Angeles on April 14. SDSU is 9-23 in school history against the Women of Troy.

(6) HARTWICK (29-9): The Hawks were the automatic qualifier from the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). With the Aztec Aquaplex awaiting its completion, the two teams met at the Kroc Community Center pool in the season opener as SDSU escaped with a 9-8 triumph on Feb. 8. Anna Gonzales scored three goals for the Aztecs, who raised their record to 5-1 all-time vs. Hartwick.

(7) POMONA-PITZER (20-9): The Sagehens received their first NCAA bid after winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). SDSU waltzed over Pomona-Pitzer, 16-3, during the Aztec Invitational on March 25 with Jenna Schuster, Erinn Greenwood and Ronni Gautschi each netting a hat trick. San Diego State was also victorious over the Sagehens, 17-2, in the only other meeting between the two schools in 2005.

(8) WAGNER (17-13): The Seahawks, champions of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), have never faced the Aztecs.

One for the Ages

  • Through 36 games this year, San Diego State (28-8, 8-4 MPSF) has enjoyed its finest campaign in program history and has surpassed its season and conference victory totals from a year ago when it posted a 22-12 overall record and a 5-7 mark in league play. The 2007 Aztecs have also eclipsed the 1996 squad, which held the previous single-season high of 27 wins. In addition, SDSU features a trio of 60-goal scorers in the same year for the first time in school history (Jenna Schuster - 79, Anna Gonzales - 74 and Stacy Werner - 62). Schuster and Gonzales, meanwhile, are also just the second Aztec 70-goal tandem, joining Larisa Baltgalvis (106) and Sarah Hanneman (79), who accomplished the feat in 1999.

What Sophomore Jinx?

  • The sophomore trio of Jenna Schuster, Anna Gonzales and Erinn Greenwood has provided much of SDSU's offensive fireworks in 2007, scoring 197 of the Aztecs' 360 goals (54.7 percent). Schuster has caught fire over the latter half of the season with 60 scores in 21 games. The Upland, Calif., native now has 79 goals on the year, which ranks 15th in the nation and second in the MPSF. In the Harper Cup against UC San Diego on April 14, she erupted for four goals during the second quarter en route to earning the game's most valuable player award. Despite missing the fifth-place game of the MPSF Championship last Sunday against San Jose State, Schuster has now scored in 27 straight games and is second on the team with 22 multiple-goal performances. She is also tops among Aztec starters with just 13 turnovers on the season and is third on the squad with 46 steals.

Schuster also captured her first MPSF Player of the Week award last month after scoring 11 goals in a three-game sweep over California, Pacific and Princeton on March 17-18. At the Aztec Invitational on March 25, she erupted for a career-high six goals, fueling SDSU's 20-6 rout of Cal State Bakersfield.

Gonzales, meanwhile, is second on the team with 74 scores and has found the back of the net in 33 out of 36 games this season. The Fresno, Calif., product has posted a team-best 24 multiple-goal efforts this year, including a season-high four tallies against Santa Clara (Feb. 24), Long Beach State (March 22), Cal State Bakersfield (March 25), Cal Baptist (March 31) and Arizona State (April 21). Gonzales has also been a force defensively, notching 51 steals.

Completing the triumvirate is Greenwood, who has 15 multiple-goal games to her credit this season - 12 more than her 2006 total. The Sanger, Calif., product leads the Aztecs with 81 ejections drawn, while her .393 shooting percentage (44-for-112) ranks fourth amongst the starters. A versatile player, Greenwood has also posted 42 assists and 40 steals, which are the third- and fourth-highest totals on the team, respectively.

Getting the Attack on Track

  • San Diego State has recorded double-digit goals in 16 of its last 21 outings, averaging 11.2 scores per game since a 14-7 victory over Pacific on March 18. Prior to that stretch, the Aztecs tallied 10 or more scores on just three occasions with a goals-per-game average of 8.3. This season, SDSU has amassed 360 goals in 36 matches for the highest scoring output in school history . In addition, SDSU's 20-6 thrashing of Cal State Bakersfield on March 25 marked only the eighth time in the progam's 13-year history that the Aztecs have broken the 20-goal plateau.

Meanwhile, on Defense...

  • Despite its defensive struggles in a 19-12 loss to Hawai'i during the MPSF Championship, San Diego State ranks eighth in the nation with a goals-against average of 6.9 for the season. The Scarlet and Black has flexed its muscles throughout most of the 2007 campaign, including the Aztec Invitational on March 24-25, when SDSU limited four opponents to just 13 goals on 78 shots for a paltry 17-percent success rate. The Aztec defense also came up big against cross-town rival UC San Diego in the Harper Cup on April 14, keeping the Tritons off the board during 11 6-on-5 opportunities in a narrow 10-8 victory.

Werner Climbing the Charts

  • Stacy Werner is enjoying another productive season as the Aztec senior leads the team with 88 steals, is second with 45 assists and ranks third with 62 goals. As a result of her efforts this year, the Lodi, Calif., native has been steadily working her way up SDSU's all-time lists in the three aforementioned categories. Werner recently moved past Casey Finnegan into second place with 242 career steals, while her 110 career assists rank fourth. With her nine scores at the MPSF Championship, Werner also finds herself in sixth place in career scoring with 144 goals.

Cervantes Also Lends a Hand

  • Senior co-captain Elana Cervantes also achieved a career milestone this year when she surpassed Dominique Delgado in the season opener against Hartwick to become SDSU's all-time leader in assists. The Davis, Calif., native has since added to her total and now has 183 career assists, including 58 in 2007, which is the highest single-season total in school history.

Kilgore Was Here

  • Goalkeeper Sarah Kilgore has enjoyed a spectacular season, amassing 333 saves in 36 games, which ranks fourth in the nation and second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. She has recorded double-digit saves in 19 games this season, including 17 stops against UC Santa Barbara on April 26 and at Hawai'i on Feb. 16, which tied her collegiate best. In addition, the Aztec senior made 10 stops in the opener against Hartwick on Feb. 8, which vaulted her into second place on SDSU's all-time career saves list. With her 869 career blocks, Kilgore trails only Curran Teigen, who holds the San Diego State record with 904 career saves.

Props for Pelke

  • Freshman Danielle Pelke has come on strong of late, scoring eight goals in her last eight outings. Prior to that stretch, the Los Alamitos High graduate tallied 11 scores in 27 games. Pelke has found success against tough conference foes with two-goal efforts at third-ranked USC (April 14), vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (April 26) and against 10th-ranked UC Irvine (April 28). She has also tightened things up defensively with 13 steals over the same eight-game span, including a career-high seven takeaways vs. San Jose State, which tied the second-highest single-game total in school history.

All-MPSF Honors On Deck for Werner, Schuster

  • Stacy Werner and Jenna Schuster were rewarded for their excellent performances this season when the two Aztec stars garnered all-MPSF accolades from the league on April 24. The all-conference honors were the first career awards for both players as Werner was a second-team choice, while Schuster received honorable mention. The pair became the first set of Aztec teammates to earn all-MPSF recognition since Holly Hartzell (first team) and Ashley Zabel (honorable mention) in 2004.

Crawford at the Controls

  • Head coach Carin Crawford is in her ninth year at the helm of the San Diego State women's water polo team. In each of her eight seasons on Montezuma Mesa, San Diego State has never finished below 11th place in the final national rankings. During her tenure, the Aztecs have garnered 12 All-America awards and claimed all-MPSF accolades on 13 occasions. Crawford's players have also earned 27 all-MPSF academic awards, as well as 27 AWPCA all-academic honors.

The Aztec Aquaplex--San Diego State's Home Sweet Home

  • With its prime location, the Aztec Aquaplex is one the final pieces of the puzzle for the San Diego State athletic department. The new facility is situated on the west side of campus nestled between San Diego State Softball Stadium and Aztec Tennis Center. The 112,000 square-foot complex was built a cost of $12 million and features an Olympic-sized pool for competitive swimming and diving, a 7,300 square-foot recreation pool with a beach-style entrance and a cloverleaf-shaped hydrotherapy spa that fits up to 20 people. The main competition pool measures 51 meters by 25 meters and includes a one-meter movable bulkhead along with two one-meter and two three-meter diving boards.

The nerve center of the Aztec Aquaplex lies in the 5,000 square-foot operations building, which contains showers, locker rooms, restrooms, administrative offices, guest services and storage. The facility, which will also serve as home for the San Diego State swimming and diving team, is equipped with an 8,000 square-foot solar water heating panel that doubles as a shading structure for spectators.

The Aztecs compiled a 9-2 record in their inaugural season at the Aquaplex after opening the 2007 campaign with a 9-8 victory over Hartwick at the Kroc Community Center on Feb. 8. Elana Cervantes scored SDSU's first goal in the new facility during the first quarter against Stanford on March 2. The Scarlet and Black and registered its first-ever victory in its new home with an 11-9 triumph over San Jose State the following day on March 3.