Feb. 8, 2009
SAN DIEGO - The No. 5 San Diego State water polo team claimed its second-consecutive tournament title at the two-day, 16-team UCSD Triton Invitational with a 9-6 victory over No. 8 Michigan and a 12-8 win over 9th-ranked UC Davis in the title game on Sunday. With the wins, the Scarlet and Black improve to 6-0 on the season.
In the championship match, Aztec senior Anna Gonzales scored three straight goals in the first quarter to establish a 4-1 lead. The Aggies fought back in the second frame, with Lindsay Kiyama and Rachelle Smith hitting back-to-back scores for UC Davis. Gonzales would not be silenced, as the All-American netted her fourth goal of the game at the 0:26 mark to put the Aztecs up 5-3 at the break.
San Diego State continued to hold strong onto a two-goal lead throughout the remainder of the game. A seven-goal outburst over the final 16 minutes of play would secure the Triton Invitational tournament crown for the Aztecs, overpowering ninth-ranked UC Davis 12-8. Sophomore Brooke Vessey converted a hat trick for SDSU, while junior Ronni Gautschi and senior All-American Jenna Schuster each found the back of the net twice. Senior Erinn Greenwood also had one tally for the Scarlet and Black.
Leading the defensive effort for the Aztecs was freshman goalie Kelly Campoli. Playing in just her fourth collegiate game, Campoli pulled down 14 saves for SDSU, with two of those coming by way of five-meter penalty shots. On the day, Campoli blocked 2-of-3 penalty shot attempts by the Aggies.
In addition to the solid play in the goal, other keys in the win occurred on 6-on-5 power play opportunities. Offensively, SDSU was able to convert 5-of-8 power play opportunities, and held UC Davis defensively to just one score of eight 6-on-5 power play attempts.
With the win, the Aztecs avenged a 9-8 loss to the Aggies at last year's NCAA tournament and claimed their second Triton Invitational title.
In the semifinal match against 8th-ranked Michigan, SDSU opened the game with two straight goals from Greenwood and junior co-captain Danielle Pelke. The Wolverines finally broke through in the first quarter off of a 6-5 goal from Cara Reitz. The Aztecs came out strong in the second frame with Gonzales finding the back of the net on the power play to go up 3-1. Reitz would pull Michigan back within one, but the Aztecs would benefit from goals by Gautschi and Greenwood during the second quarter to put the Aztecs ahead, 5-2. Michigan would score in the final seconds of the first half, cutting the Aztecs lead to 5-3 at the break.
Each team would score just once in the third quarter, but the Aztecs would shine in the fourth frame. The Aztecs opened up their biggest lead of the game, 8-4, on a Gonzales penalty shot 19 seconds into the fourth quarter. Less than a minute later, Pelke would find the back of the net from outside to convert a hat trick. Both teams exchanged goals in the final two minutes of the game, as Gonzales connected on her third tally of the game at the 1:54 mark. The Wolverines would score the final goal of the game when Leah Robertson skipped one past the SDSU goalie, but it would not be enough for Michigan as the Aztecs would defeat the Wolverines 9-6 to advance to the championship game.
SDSU's Campoli had 12 saves, two steals and one assist in the semifinal win over Michigan.
The two wins on Sunday mark the third and fourth victories over nationally ranked teams in the young 2009 season. SDSU moves to a perfect 6-0 in 2009 after going 4-0 during the weekend.
San Diego State will look to maintain its unblemished record when they open Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference play when they visit third-ranked UCLA on Friday, Feb. 13. Game time is set for 3 p.m. in Los Angeles.
UCSD Triton Invitational, Day 2
Canyonview West Pool - La Jolla, Calif.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009
Semifinal match: No. 5 San Diego State 9, No. 8 Michigan 6
Michigan 1-2-1-2 - 6
SDSU 2-3-1-3 - 9
SDSU goals: Gonzales 3, Pelke 3, Novack 2, Greenwood 2, Gautschi 1.
Michigan goals: Mantel 2, Reitz 2, Robertson 1, Hyrne 1.
SDSU goal saves: Campoli 12.
Michigan goal saves: May 8.
Championship match: No. 5 San Diego State 12, No. 9 UC Davis 8
UC Davis 1-2-3-2 - 8
SDSU 3-2-4-3 - 12
SDSU goals: Gonzales 4, Vessey 3, Gautschi 2, Schuster 2, Greenwood 1.
UC Davis goals: Faber 2, Mohr 2, Chandler 1, Kiyama 1, Miyabe 1, Smith 1.
SDSU goal saves: Campoli 14.