Feb. 23, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. - The sixth-ranked San Diego State women's water polo team suffered its first setback of the 2007-08 campaign as it was upset by No. 11 UC Davis, 8-7, in the opening round of the UC Irvine Invitational, but rebounded to defeat No. 15 Michigan, 11-9, on Saturday.
The Aztecs scored two goals in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 7-7, but the Aggies' Christi Raycroft scored the game-winning goal for UC Davis with 1:23 remaining.
Junior Anna Gonzales led the Aztec attack with a hat trick, marking her seventh game with at least three goals. Classmate Jenna Schuster chipped in two tallies, while senior Becca Ur and sophomore Danielle Pelke each scored once. Senior Heather Fenske manned the net for the Aztecs, notching eight saves.
After its opening round loss, SDSU rebounded in the consolation bracket to defeat No. 15 Michigan, 11-9. It is the second time in as many weekends the Aztecs have topped the Wolverines as the two met at the Princeton Invitational on Feb. 16.
The Scarlet and Black led 9-8 heading into the fourth quarter and had goals by Pelke and Ur to open an 11-8 advantage with 4:17 remaining. SDSU's Fenske had three of her 12 saves down the stretch as Michigan would only score with 12 seconds to go for the 11-9 Aztec victory.
San Diego State will continue play in the consolation bracket tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. against host UC Irvine at Corona Del Mar High School in Newport Beach, Calif. The highest the Aztecs can finish is ninth place.
UC Irvine Invitational
Anteater Aquatics Complex -- Irvine, Calif.
Feb. 23, 2008
No. 11 UC Davis 8, No. 6 San Diego State 7
SDSU 1-1-3-2 -- 7
UCD 2-3-2-1 -- 8
SDSU goals: Gonzales 3, Schuster 2, Ur, Pelke.
UC Davis goals: Lowe 2, Kiyama 2, Patronas, Soza, Uribe, Raycroft.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 8.
UC Davis goalie saves: Hines 5.
Game 2
No. 6 San Diego State 11, No. 15 Michigan 9
SDSU 2-5-2-2 -- 11
MICH 4-2-2-1 -- 9
SDSU goals: Schuster 4, Pelke 2, Greenwood 2, Brady, Gonzales, Ur.
Michigan goals: Robertson 4, Keeley 2, Mantel, Hyrne, Hernandez.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 12.
Michigan goalie saves: May 6.