March 6, 2009
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Eleven Aztecs found their way into the scoring column as the sixth-ranked San Diego State water polo team routed CSU Monterey Bay, 19-8. The Scarlet and Black improves to 12-3 overall, while the Otters fall to 3-16.
Senior Anna Gonzales led the Aztec attack with five goals, while junior Ronni Gautschi, sophomore Brooke Vessey, and freshmen Leanne Ford and Kimmy Keach each scored twice. Freshman Kelly Campoli turned away five shots in front of the net.
SDSU opened up scoring just over a minute into the game when Gautschi found the back of the net at the 6:57 mark. Taking advantage of a 6-on-5 situation, Cookie Cuzynski was able to get the Otters on the board at the 5:34 mark. Gonzales responded, scoring two consecutive goals to put the Aztecs up, 3-1. Monterey Bay would again convert a power play opportunity, with Nikki Smart netting her first score of the match. Ford and senior Erinn Greenwood would close out the first quarter scoring with back-to-back goals to give SDSU the 5-2 advantage.
The Scarlet and Black kept the momentum on its side after the first frame, erupting for a season-high six goals in the second quarter. Gonzales started the offensive onslaught, scoring within the first minutes of action on a penalty shot and again at the 6:40 mark. CSUMB's Chloe McRae would answer both Gonzales goals with two of her own coming at the 6:53 and 5:32 time marks. Vessey would score and freshman Meaghan Poland would follow suit just 18 seconds later to tally her second career goal. Keach closed out the first half with her second score of the season.
After the break, the Aztec offense would be quieted throughout the first half of the third quarter until junior Melissa de Jonckheere converted her shot for her lone tally of the game. Once again, the Otters would find Smart to answer for her second goal. San Diego State had a three goal charge in the final minute of third period action, as Gonzales, sophomore Ashley Novack and Vessey would each score within 52 seconds of each other.
SDSU would not let up in the final frame, outscoring the Monterey Bay 4-3. Senior co-captain Jenna Schuster converted a 6-on-5 power play to score her lone goal of the game and give the Scarlet and Black the 16-5 advantage. The Otters' Katie Sowul notched her lone tally at the 5:11 mark, but SDSU's Kierstin Hill would fire back with her own goal. Scholz would find the back of the net, but the Aztecs again would answer. Keach would connect her second notch of the contest and Ford convert a penalty shot to give San Diego State its largest lead of the afternoon (19-7). Alexandra Vespremi would close out the game with 19 seconds remaining, but the damage had already been done as SDSU walked away with the 19-8 victory.
In the afternoon match against Fresno Pacific, San Diego State put its offensive power on display once again, scoring 25 goals against the Sunbirds. Freshman Hilary Whelan led the Aztec offense with four goals, while freshman Alana Burgess, Gautschi, Greenwood, Hill, freshman Lindsey Morris, sophomore Fallon Newman and Novack each tallied a pair of goals. Ford, Gonzales, Keach, senior Erin Lester, Poland, Shuster and Vessey each added one score. Senior Katie Bentley allowed a season-low three goals for SDSU.
San Diego State returns to action Saturday, when the Aztecs take on Pacific at the UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Spring Invite. The first-round matchup between the Scarlet and Black and the Tigers is slated to being at 10:15 a.m. A link to the tournament page will be available on GoAztecs.com.
Cal Lutheran Water Polo Spring Tournament
Samuelson Aquatic Center - Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Friday, March 06, 2009
No. 6 San Diego State 19, CSU Monterey Bay 8
San Diego State 5 - 6 - 4 - 4 - 19
CSU Monterey Bay 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 8
SDSU goals - Gonzales 5, Ford 2, Gautschi 2, Keach 2, Vessey 2, Novak, Hill, de Jonckheere, Greenwood, Schuster, Poland
CSUMB goals - McRae 2, Smart 2, Scholz 2, Sowul, Vespremi
SDSU goal saves: Campoli 5.
CSUMB goal saves: Prosser 2.
No. 6 San Diego State 25, Fresno Pacific 3
San Diego State 5 - 5 - 9 - 6 - 25
Fresno Pacific 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 - 3
SDSU goals - Whelan 4, Burgess 2, Gautschi 2, Greenwood 2, Hill 2, Morris 2, Newman 2, Novak 2, Ford, Gonzales, Keach, Lester, Poland, Schuster, Vessey.
FPU - Blinovskaya 2, Toth.