Water Polo

SDSU Water Polo Concludes Perfect Weekend With Big Wins Over Princeton and Cal State Bakersfield

SDSU Water Polo Concludes Perfect Weekend With Big Wins Over Princeton and Cal State BakersfieldSDSU Water Polo Concludes Perfect Weekend With Big Wins Over Princeton and Cal State Bakersfield

March 16, 2008

SAN DIEGO - The sixth-ranked San Diego State women's water polo team defeated No. 20 Princeton, 10-2, before downing Cal State Bakersfield, 13-7, on Sunday to complete a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Aztec Invitational. With the victories, the Scarlet and Black improved to 21-2, marking its third straight 20-win season.

San Diego State 10, Princeton 2
Bolstered by a strong defensive effort and four goals from junior Anna Gonzales, San Diego State cruised to a 10-2 victory over No. 20 Princeton at the Aztec Invitational on Sunday morning.

In addition to Gonzales' four tallies, Jenna Schuster and Sarah Brady chipped in two goals apiece, with Brady adding three steals in the game. Danielle Pelke and Hannah Klein also found the back of the net for the Aztecs.

Splitting time in front of the cage, Katie Bentley and Heather Fenske each recorded seven saves.

The Aztecs struck first with Gonzales scoring just 30 seconds into the game. Pelke and Brady both netted a goal to put SDSU up 3-0 before Princeton dented the scoreboard at the 2:00 mark with a tally by Tanya Wilcox.

While holding Princeton scoreless over the next two quarters, the Scarlet and Black erupted for four goals in the second period. Schuster scored twice to open the attack before Brady and Gonzales closed out the period with a pair of tallies, giving SDSU an 8-1 lead at the half.

The Tigers ended their offensive drought at the 5:04 mark in the final quarter as Lauren Sabb slipped one past Bentley, but Gonzlaes notched her fourth tally with 2:26 remaining and Klein tacked on one more for the 10-2 victory.

San Diego State 13, Cal State Bakersfield 7
San Diego State used a pair of four-goal periods in the latter half of the game to run away with a 13-7 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in its final match at the Aztec Invitational on Sunday afternoon.

Jenna Schuster and Jessica Pace-Bowers both notched a hat trick to lead the SDSU offense. Sarah Brady and Danielle Pelke each chipped in a pair of goals, while Erin Lester, Erinn Greenwood and Ronni Gautschi all netted one tally. Pace-Bowers added a game-high four assists and Greenwood totaled six ejections drawn.

Heather Fenske had a phenomenal game in front of the cage, recording a career-high 16 saves. Schuster and Pelke both had three steals in a solid defensive effort by the Aztecs.

The two teams were neck-in-neck in the early going as the score was knotted at two after the first quarter. Buoyed by Pace-Bower's two goals in the second frame, the Aztecs took a 5-4 advantage at the break.

SDSU then pulled away in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals. Schuster found the back of the net twice, while Brady and Lester also dented the scoreboard, putting the Aztecs up by five (9-4).

The Scarlet and Black tacked on four more goals in the final period, securing the 13-7 victory.

San Diego State will have a week off to prepare for a pair of tough Mountain Pacific Sports Federation games with a match-up against fourth-ranked California at 4 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday, March 27, and a 1 p.m. (PDT) showdown with No. 3 USC on Saturday, March 29. Both games will be played at the Aztec Aquaplex.

#6 San Diego State 10, #20 Princeton 2
Aztec Aquaplex - San Diego, Calif.
March 16, 2008

Princeton 1-0-0-1 -- 2
SDSU 3-4-1-2 -- 10

Princeton goals: Sabb, Wilcox.
SDSU goals: Gonzales 4, Brady 2, Schuster 2, Klein, Pelke.

Princeton goalkeeper saves: Michel 6.
SDSU goalkeeper saves: Fenske 7, Bentley 7.

#6 San Diego State 13, Cal State Bakersfield 7
Aztec Aquaplex - San Diego, Calif.
March 16, 2008

CSUB 2-2-0-3 -- 7
SDSU 2-3-4-4 -- 13

CSUB goals: Ortiz 3, Koudelkova 2, Gillett, Kelley.
SDSU goals: Schuster 3, Pace-Bowers 3, Brady 2, Pelke 2, Lester, Greenwood, Gautschi.

CSUB goalkeeper saves: Campbell 9.
SDSU goalkeeper saves: Fenske 16.