Feb. 9, 2008
LA JOLLA, Calif. - The sixth-ranked San Diego State water polo team opened the two-day, 16-team Triton Invitational with a 13-6 rout of Maryland and an 11-6 victory over No. 16 Cal State Northridge on Saturday.
With the wins, the Scarlet and Black improves to 3-0 on the season.
In the opening game against Maryland, five Aztecs posted multiple-goal performances. Anna Gonzales led all scorers with three goals, while Ronni Gautschi, Erinn Greenwood, Danielle Pelke and Jenna Schuster all had two tallies. Freshman Sarah Brady chipped in with her first collegiate score, while Becca Ur also found the back of the net.
Senior goalkeeper Heather Fenske started the game and played the first three quarters, notching nine saves, and junior transfer Katie Bentley saw her first action as an Aztec, playing the final eight minutes and recording five stops.
SDSU jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Terrapins were able to close the gap to three (6-3) at intermission, but the Aztecs outscored Maryland 7-3 in the second half to secure the victory.
In the second game against CS Northridge, Gonzales posted a game-high five goals, while Pelke chipped in two more. Brady, Tiphanie Elliott and Ur all netted one score. Fenske played the entire game in goal, blocking eight shots.
Once again, the Aztecs struck first with two in the first quarter, while holding the Matadors scoreless, but Northridge tied the game at four apiece in the second period. A five-goal outburst after the break gave SDSU a 9-6 lead that they never relinquished.
SDSU will continue play at the Triton Invitational with a semifinal match-up against UC Santa Barbara tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. PT. If the Aztecs win, they will face the winner of the Loyola Marymount/UC Irvine game at 5 p.m. for the championship.
Triton Invitational
Canyonview East Pool -- La Jolla, Calif.
Feb. 9, 2008
No. 6 San Diego State 13, Maryland 6
SDSU 5-1-4-3 -- 13
Maryland 0-3-2-1 -- 6
SDSU goals: Gonzales 3, Gautschi 2, Greenwood 2, Pelke 2, Schuster 2, Brady, Ur.
Maryland goals: M. Eicks 2, Beck, Lau, Mills, Hopkins.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 9, Bentley 5.
No. 6 San Diego State 11, No. 16 Cal State Northridge 6
SDSU 2-2-5-2 -- 11
CSUN 0-4-2-0 -- 6
SDSU goals: Gonzales 5, Pelke 2, Brady, Elliott, Greenwood, Ur.
CSUN goals: Curran 3, Brookes, Coy, Van Gorder.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 8.