April 19, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - The fourth-ranked San Diego State water polo team fell to No. 6 Arizona State, 10-7, in its regular-season finale at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Scarlet and Black drops to 26-5 overall and 8-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the Sun Devils improve to 20-10, 7-5 MPSF.
The junior trio of Anna Gonzales, Erinn Greenwood and Jenna Schuster led the Aztec attack with two goals apiece. Senior Becca Ur chipped in a tally, while classmate Heather Fenske notched five saves in goal.
ASU was led by Addison McGrath, who had a game-high three goals. Lauren Hayes, Katy Lawlor and Kelly Phelps gave the Sun Devil offense an extra boost as all three found the back of the cage twice.
Arizona State jumped out to an early lead after taking advantage of a 6-on-5 situation just 26 seconds into the game. About a minute later, Lawlor scored her first goal of the day before Phelps closed out the period with another tally for the Sun Devils. ASU was able to shut down the Aztec offense giving it a 3-0 lead after eight minutes of action.
San Diego State started to find its rhythm in the second quarter as Schuster opened the scoring for the Scarlet and Black at the 7:36 mark. After Ur found the back of the net, ASU took a 5-2 lead by converting on another man-up opportunity, but Gonzales would counter with just 58 seconds remaining in the half to cut SDSU's deficit to two.
In the third frame, the Sun Devils matched the Aztecs' three scores to maintain their two-goal lead at 8-6.
Gonzales scored her second goal of the day with 6:02 left to play, pulling SDSU within one (8-7). But Arizona State shot down any notion of a comeback as it quieted the Aztec offense for the remainder of the final stanza, while scoring twice for the 10-7 victory.
After closing out the regular season with three road games, San Diego State will return to the friendly confines of the Aztec Aquaplex to host the MPSF championships, April 24-27. The Scarlet and Black has clinched the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will take on the 13th-seeded Pacific Tigers in the opening round.
#6 ARIZONA STATE 10, #4 SAN DIEGO STATE 7
Mona Plummer Aquatic Center - Tempe, Ariz.
April 19, 2008
SDSU 0-3-3-1 -- 7
ASU 3-2-3-2 -- 10
SDSU goals: Gonzales 2, Greenwood 2, Schuster 2, Ur.
ASU goals: McGrath 3, Phelps 2, Hayes 2, Lawlor 2, Miles.
SDSU goalie saves: Fenske 5.
ASU goalie saves: Wallace 8.