Feb. 13, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 4-ranked UCLA women's water polo team proved to have too much offensive power for fifth-ranked San Diego State as the bruins prevailed, 14-7, Friday afternoon at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. UCLA (6-2 overall, 1-0 MPSF) pulled away with seven goals in the second quarter to win its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener. The Aztecs, meanwhile, were handed their first loss of the season and fall to 6-1 overall and 0-1 in the MPSF.
San Diego State was led by senior Jenna Schuster's season-high four goal effort, while classmates Anna Gonzales had two scores and Erinn Greenwood also found the back of the net in the loss. Freshman goalkeeper Kelly Campoli turned away nine shots.
Senior Tanya Gandy and Katie Rulon each led the Bruin attack with three goals. Sophomore Priscilla Orozco and freshman Hannah Sebenaler each added one pair of goals. Senior goalkeeper Brittany Fullen quieted the Aztec offense and tied her season high with 12 saves in the cage.
UCLA jumped out to a 4-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Rulon scored the game's first goal, just 1:10 into the contest, and Sarah Orozco doubled the Bruins' lead with a goal at the 4:20 mark in the first quarter. Priscilla Orozco's goal 21 seconds into the second period would increase the Bruins' advantage to 3-0, and sophomore Kelly Easterday's strike at the 6:33 mark handed UCLA a 4-0 lead.
After being blanked in the first frame, the Aztecs sliced UCLA's cushion in half, as Schuster scored San Diego State's first goal with 6:18 to play in the first half and Gonzales followed at the 5:42 mark, converting on a five-meter penalty shot.
The Bruins used a 5-2 run to close the second half and assume a 9-4 halftime advantage.
In the third quarter, San Diego State reduced its deficit to as few as three goals. The Aztecs closed the gap to 9-6 on Gonzales' second goal of the day with 5:17 remaining in the period.
UCLA took advantage of a 5-0 scoring run in the game's final four minutes to secure the MPSF victory. Schuster scored her fourth goal with four seconds left in the game, but it was not enough as the Aztecs were handed their first loss of the season.
San Diego State will have the week off before traveling north to compete in the UC Irvine Invitational, Feb. 21-22. The Aztecs are set to square off against Michigan in the first game of pool play. SDSU defeated Michigan on Feb. 7 at the UCSD Triton Invitational by a score of 9-6. Game time is set for 12:45 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Corona Del Mar HS.
No. 4 UCLA 14, No. 5 San Diego State 7
Feb. 13, 2009
Sunset Canyon Recreation Center - Los Angeles, Calif.
SDSU 0-4-1-2 - 7
UCLA 2-7-0-5 - 14
SDSU goals - Schuster 4, Gonzales 2, Greenwood.
UCLA goals - Gandy 3, Rulon 3, P. Orozco 2, Sebenaler 2, Belden, Easterday, S. Orozco, Sullivan.
SDSU goalie saves - Campoli 9.
UCLA goalie saves - Fullen 12.