April 13, 2008
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The fifth-ranked San Diego State water polo team rebounded from a tough loss to top-ranked UCLA by downing No. 15 Cal State Northridge, 15-8, at Matador Pool on Sunday afternoon. The Aztecs, who improved to 26-4 overall and 8-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, are just three wins shy of tying the program-record 29 victories established a year ago.
Junior Anna Gonzales tied her season-high with five goals, which she had previously accomplished in the Aztecs' win over the Matadors on Feb. 9. Classmate Jenna Schuster chipped in a hat trick, while senior Becca Ur and freshman Sarah Brady each notched a pair of tallies. Rounding out the SDSU goal scorers were Tiphanie Elliott, Danielle Pelke and Jessica Pace-Bowers. Senior Heather Fenske had another stellar game in front of the cage, blocking her third penalty shot in the last three games and turning away a total of seven Northridge shot attempts.
Cal State Northridge (10-17 overall, 1-10 MPSF) opened the scoring at the 6:58 mark before Pace-Bowers tied the game just 23 seconds later. CSUN eventually took a 4-2 lead late in the first quarter, but Ur found the back cage with 1:52 on the clock to pull the Aztecs back within one.
Trailing 4-3 at the start of the second period, SDSU began its offensive outburst with three straight goals to take a 6-4 advantage. Renee Gargioulo ended a nearly 10-minute scoring drought for the Matadors with a tally at the 1:59 mark, but both Elliott and Ur would score in the final minute of the half to put the Aztecs up 8-5 at intermission.
The Scarlet and Black continued its offensive mindset after the break, as Gonzales and Schuster combined to score five of SDSU's third quarter goals. The Aztecs outscored the Matadors, 6-2, to take a commanding 14-7 lead.
Things quieted down in the final eight minutes of play with the two teams trading a goal, giving SDSU the 15-8 victory.
San Diego State will conclude its regular season schedule on Saturday, April 19, when it travels to Tempe, Ariz., for a noon (PDT) showdown with No. 7 Arizona State. It will mark the second meeting between the two teams this year, as the Aztecs defeated the Sun Devils, 7-5, at the UC Irvine Invitational in February.
SDSU is also set to host the 2008 MPSF championship, April 24-27, at the Aztec Aquaplex, marking the first time the conference tournament will be held in San Diego.
#5 SAN DIEGO STATE 15, #15 CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE 8
Matador Pool - Northridge, Calif.
April 13, 2008
SDSU 3-5-6-1 -- 15
CSUN 4-1-2-1 -- 8
SDSU goals: Gonzales 5, Schuster 3, Brady 2, Ur 2, Elliott, Pace-Bowers, Pelke.
CSUN goals: Curran 2, Gargioulo 2, McLaughlin, Coy, Van Gorder, Brookes.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 7.