March 1, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Senior Anna Gonzales scored four goals on Sunday to power the fifth-ranked San Diego State water polo team past No. 16 Long Beach State, 12-8, in a nonconference match at the Aztec Aquaplex. SDSU was aided by hat tricks from senior co-captain Jenna Schuster and sophomore Sarah Brady to raise its overall record to 10-3, while Long Beach State fell to 5-7 on the season.
The first quarter of play saw Long Beach State got on the board first when Lauren Sieprath connected at the 6:22 mark. The Aztecs responded on the next play when senior Erinn Greenwood drew an ejection to set up a 6-on-5 power play opportunity. SDSU's Gonzales would connect for the score off of a pass from Brady to tie the game at 1-1. The 49ers found Becky Gentner less than a minute later to give Long Beach State the 1-2 advantage. Gonzales would find an opportunity to tally her second score of the game when she stole the ball at the top to connect on the breakaway. Another steal by the Scarlet and Black would lead to Brady drawing an ejection and converting on the power play opportunity to give the Aztecs the 3-2 lead. The San Diego State defense was anchored by freshman Kelly Campoli, who came off the line to force a turnover that resulted in Gonzales' third goal of the first quarter as she found the back of the net with an outside shot. Another turnover by the 49ers benefited the Aztecs when Schuster converted off of a pass from junior Melissa de Jonckheere. Long Beach State would close the game to two when Cecilia Canetti converted a power play at the 1:31 mark to cut the deficit to 5-3 at the end of the first.
Both sides misfired on early opportunities in the second quarter until junior Ronni Gautschi found the back of the net for the score at the 5:57 mark. On the next play, Gonzales would be ejected, resulting in a score by the 49ers' Branwyn Lee just 35 seconds later. Lee would score the next goal of the game when she converted a penalty shot with 4:08 left to play, which cut the Aztecs' margin to 6-5. Greenwood would close out the first half with a steal and the finish, notching her first goal of the day and gave SDSU a 7-5 advantage heading into the break.
The 49ers stuck just over three minutes into the third frame when they found Krizia Cerda for her lone tally of the day. Shortly thereafter, however, Meaghan Leonard made a costly error when she earned a penalty foul against Greenwood. Gonzales converted the ensuing penalty shot to give the Aztecs the 8-6 lead. After the Gonzales score, Schuster converted consecutive power-play opportunities to give San Diego State the 10-6 lead. The 49ers would convert their own power-play when Canetti scored with 13 seconds left in the third stanza.
SDSU's Brady would score two more goals in a row to open the final quarter. A drawn ejection by Gautschi would lead to Brady's second tally of the day off of a pass from sophomore Brooke Vessey. Brady's second strike of the quarter came at the 2:24 mark when freshman Lindsey Morris found her for the score. The 49ers' Sieprath would convert off of a steal at the 1:16 mark, but it would be too late as the Aztecs would preserve the 12-8 victory.
Campoli deflected 13 shots in front of the net, while Brady and Greenwood contributed three steals apiece. Greenwood also posted a team-leading three assists and Campoli provided two helpers.
San Diego State will be on the road next weekend, when the Aztecs participate in the Cal Lutheran and UC Santa Barbara tournaments.
No. 5 San Diego State 12, No. 16 Long Beach State 8
March, 1, 2009
Aztec Aquaplex - San Diego, Calif.
Long Beach State 3-2-2-1- 8
San Diego State 5-2-3-2 - 12
SDSU goals - Gonzales 4, Brady 3, Schuster 3, Gautschi, Greenwood.
SDSU goalie saves - Campoli 13.
Long Beach State goals - Canetti 2, Cierprath 2, Lee 2, Cerda, Genter.