March 8, 2009
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The No. 6 San Diego State water polo team claimed two more victories on the day two of the Gaucho Spring Invite today. The Aztecs enjoyed a 19-7 victory over No. 16 Long Beach State in the morning match, followed by a 7-3 win over 13th-ranked UC Santa Barbara in the afternoon match. With the wins, the Scarlet and Black improve to 16-3 on the season.
In the early match against Long Beach State, senior Anna Gonzales erupted for six scores, tying a career high for goals in a single game. Senior co-captain Jenna Schuster, juniors Melissa de Jonckheere and Danielle Pelke and freshman Kimmy Keach each added two tallies each. Senior Erin Lester, junior Ronni Gautschi and freshman Leanne Ford, Meaghan Poland and Hilary Whelan each added one score each. Freshman Kelly Campoli collected four saves in front of the goal.
SDSU continued its weekend trend of getting on the board early and often, jumping out to a 5-1 lead against the 49ers after the first quarter of play. Long Beach State would quiet the Scarlet and Black offense in the second quarter of play and matched the pair of goals San Diego State scored before the break. The Aztecs enjoyed a 7-3 lead going into the second half of play.
After the break, SDSU would outscore Long Beach State 4-2 in the third quarter of play, but an eight-goal fourth quarter would propel the Aztecs past the 49ers. San Diego State would win the contest, 19-7.
The afternoon match-up put the Scarlet and Black against tournament host and 13th-ranked UC Santa Barbara. After a weekend in which the Aztecs put up double-figure scores in every game, San Diego State's offense would be limited to only seven goals. UCSB outscored SDSU 2-1 in the first frame, but the Aztecs would blank the Gauchos in the second frame and add two tallies, giving the Scarlet and Black a 3-2 advantage heading into the second half.
After intermission, the Aztecs continued its solid play on both sides of the pool. San Diego State would again shutdown the UCSB offense in the second half, outscoring the Gauchos 2-0. In the final frame, two more SDSU goals would prove too much for the Gauchos. The Scarlet and Black would go on to win the game against UC Santa Barbara, 7-3.
Gonzales and Schuster led all Aztecs in the afternoon game with two goals apiece, while senior Erinn Greenwood and juniors Ronni Gautschi and Melissa de Jonckheere each found the back of the net once. Campoli recorded six saves in the second match.
San Diego State will continue play at the Gaucho Spring Invite on Sunday when the Aztecs take on 16th-ranked Long Beach State at 10:30 a.m. PT. The Scarlet and Black will play their final match of the weekend against tourney host No. 13 UC Santa Barbara. Game time is scheduled for a 4:45 p.m. PT start.
Gaucho Spring Invite
UCSB Campus Pool - Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Third Round Match: #6 San Diego State 19, #16 Long Beach State 7
SDSU 5-2-4-8 -- 19
LBSU 1-2-2-2 -- 7
SDSU Goals: Gonzales 6, de Jonckheere 2, Keach 2, Pelke 2, Schuster 2, Ford, Gautschi, Lester, Poland, Whelan.
SDSU Saves: Campoli 4.
LBSU Goals: Cerda 3, Canetti 2, Leonard, McKeon.
LBSU Saves: Straiger 5.
Fourth Round Match: #6 San Diego State, #13 UC Santa Barbara
SDSU 1-2-2-2 -- 7
UCSB 2-0-0-1 -- 3
SDSU Goals: Gonzales 2, Shuster 2, de Jonckheere, Gautschi, Greenwood.
SDSU Saves: Campoli 6
UCSB Goals: Kepner, Morgan, Rouleau.
UCSB Saves: Murphy 12