Feb. 7, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The sixth-ranked San Diego State women's water polo team opened the 2008 campaign with an 11-8 triumph over No. 10 Hartwick College on Thursday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex. With the win, SDSU notched its seventh consecutive season-opening victory, while Hartwick fell to 0-4.
Junior All-American Jenna Schuster led the Aztec attack with three goals, while classmates Anna Gonzales and Erinn Greenwood added two scores apiece. Senior Heather Fenske was a dominant force in the net for SDSU, recording a career-high 14 saves.
Hartwick was led by sophomore Kirsten Hudson, who scored six of the Hawks' eight goals.
San Diego State struck first as sophomore Danielle Pelke found the back of the net before senior Becca Ur scored to give the Aztecs a quick 2-0 lead. Greenwood tacked on one more goal before Hartwick was able to get on the board when Hudson converted a penalty shot at the 2:15 mark. Each team added another tally before the end of the first quarter, giving SDSU the 4-2 advantage.
In a low-scoring second period, Gonzales and junior Jessica Pace posted back-to-back goals, but Hudson responded with a score of her own to close the gap to 6-3 at intermission.
After the break, both teams picked up their offense as Gonzales opened the action with her second goal of the day. Schuster also recorded two of her three tallies in the third quarter, while junior Erin Lester tacked on one more to build a 10-4 lead for SDSU. Hudson was able to respond at the end of the quarter, however, scoring twice in the last minute of play to pull the Hawks back within four (10-6).
Hartwick gave the Aztecs a run for their money in the final eight minutes of play as they cut SDSU's lead in half by netting two goals and holding the Scarlet and Black scoreless until the 1:21 mark, when Greenwood notched a tally to secure the 11-8 victory.
The Aztecs will return to action this weekend when they travel across town to compete in the Triton Invitational, Feb. 9-10, in La Jolla, Calif. SDSU will open tournament play with a 9 a.m. game against Maryland at the Canyonview East Pool on the UC San Diego campus. Depending on how SDSU fares in its morning game, the Aztecs will play again at either 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.
No. 6 San Diego State 11, No. 10 Hartwick 8
Feb. 7, 2008
Aztec Aquaplex -- San Diego, Calif.
Hartwick College 2-1-3-2 -- 8
San Diego State 4-2-4-1 -- 11
SDSU goals - Schuster 3, Gonzales 2, Greenwood 2, Lester 1, Pace 1, Pelke 1, Ur 1.
SDSU goalie saves - Fenske 14.
Hartwick goals - Hudson 6, Dahl-Smith 1, McKee 1.