March 2, 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The No. 7 San Diego State water polo team's three-goal outburst in the fourth quarter lifted it to a 9-8 comeback victory over eighth-ranked San Jose State (8-8 overall, 1-3 MPSF) at the campus Aquatics Center. Junior Anna Gonzales scored the game-winner as the Scarlet and Black improved to 14-2 overall and 1-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Gonzales led the SDSU offense with four goals, while Erinn Greenwood chipped in two. Jessica Pace, Jenna Schuster and Danielle Pelke rounded out the Aztec scorers with one tally apiece. Heather Fenske recorded double-digit saves for the fifth time this season, as she turned away 10 shots.
San Diego State dented the scoreboard first, with Pelke finding the back of the net after just under two minutes of action. Gonzales then scored two of her four goals before SJSU closed out the period with a tally of its own, giving the Aztecs a 3-1 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
It was a different story in the second frame, with the Spartans outscoring the Scarlet and Black, 3-1, to even the match (4-4) at the break. San Jose State carried its momentum into the third period, erupting for four goals to take an 8-6 lead heading into the final eight minutes of play.
The Aztecs were able to counter in the fourth quarter as Greenwood knotted the score at 8-8, before Gonzales tossed in the game-winner with 36 seconds on the clock. SDSU's defense also stepped up, holding the Spartans scoreless in the final frame.
San Diego State will close out its four-week road swing at No. 11 UC Irvine on Friday, March 7, with game time set for 7 p.m. PT. The Aztecs will return home the following Sunday, March 9, for a noon PT showdown with 17th-ranked UC Santa Barbara.
No. 7 San Diego State 9, No. 8 San Jose State 8
Aquatics Center -- San Jose, Calif.
March 2, 2008
SDSU 3-1-2-3 -- 9
SJSU 1-3-4-0 -- 8
SDSU goals: Gonzales 4, Greenwood 2, Pace, Pelke, Schuster.
SJSU goals: Harberts 2, Torres 2, Vogt 2, McKee, Lindsey.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 10.