April 11, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Senior Anna Gonzales scored five goals, including two in the fourth quarter, to help seventh-ranked San Diego State pull away to an 11-8 win over No. 8 Arizona State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation water polo action at the Aztec Aquaplex Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Aztecs improve to 21-8 overall (1-6 MPSF), while the Sun Devils drop to 13-12 (0-7 MPSF) for the season.
Gonzales was perfect during the game, scoring her five goals on five attempts. Senior co-captain Jenna Schuster and sophomore Sarah Brady each added two scores, while juniors Melissa de Jonckheere and Danielle Pelke each chipped in one. Freshman goalkeeper Kelly Campoli posted 15 saves, including a five-meter penalty shot.
The Aztecs took control early in the game on back-to-back goals from Gonzales. The first score came at the 5:33 mark when she found the back of the net on a 6-on-5 attempt after ASU's Mariam Salloum was excluded. Gonzales netted SDSU's second goal when she converted a five-meter opportunity where Salloum earned the penalty. The Sun Devils would get on the board with 2:36 left in the first quarter when Nikki Unbehaun successfully converted a power play opportunity after Gonzales was excluded. San Diego State would enjoy an early 2-1 lead at the end of the first period.
Arizona State equalized the score at the 6:53 mark in the second frame. After Pelke was excluded for 20 seconds, the Sun Devils took advantage of the man-up situation and found Lynlee Smith for the equalizer. San Diego State would capitalize on a 6-on-5 opportunity of its own when junior Ronni Gautschi drew and ejection of Addison McGrath and co-captain Pelke converted the play when Gonzales fed her for the score. Gonzales found the back of the net from outside at the 4:39 mark, giving the Aztecs a 4-2 advantage. ASU would fight back to score with 3:18 to play before intermission when McGrath tallied her lone goal of the game on a power play opportunity. The Sun Devils looked poised to tie the game when SDSU freshman Lindsey Morris was called for a five-meter exclusion, but freshman goalkeeper Campoli would block McGrath's free shot. Campoli couldn't do it twice, however, as Arizona State scored on the second five-meter shot attempt within the final two minutes after Kelly Phelps' shot skipped under Camopli's arms. With the score tied at four, the Aztecs and ASU traded goals before the break. Phelps would connect again within in 53 seconds of her first goal, but Schuster would retie the match at five when she found the back of the net with five seconds remaining in the first half.
After intermission it was much of the same as SDSU and the Sun Devils would trade goals throughout the third period. Salloum would score first after the break, but San Diego State's Brady would connect on back-to-back goals to craft a one-goal lead. Arizona State answered Brady when Smith cinverted a power play opportunity with 1:39 remaining in the period. Schuster would give the Aztecs a one-goal lead heading into the final frame when her shot found the back of the net with 0:00.14 remained on the clock.
The Scarlet and Black scored three straight goals to open fourth period play and craft an 11-7 lead. SDSU's de Jonckheere found the back of the net just 36 seconds into the frame and Gonzales would net another from the perimeter on a pass from Gautschi who was inside. The Scarlet and Black's final goal of the game came with less than two minutes remaining in the contest. After Sam Schubert was excluded, San Diego State called a timeout to setup the power play opportunity. Gonzales would convert the chance and net her fifth goal of the game. Phelps notched her third goal of the game in the final 30 seconds of play, but it would be too late for the Sun Devils as San Diego State went on to win the match, 11-8.
The Aztecs return to the pool Saturday, April 18, when it plays host to UC San Diego in the annual Harper Cup. Game time is set for noon PT at the Aztec Aquaplex.
No. 7 San Diego State 11, No. 8 Arizona State 8
April 11, 2009 - Aztec Aquaplex
San Diego State 2-3-3-3 - 11
Arizona State 1-4-2-1 - 8
San Diego State goals: Gonzales 5, Brady 2, Schuster 2, de Jonckheere, Pelke.
Arizona State goals: Phelps 3, Smith 2, McGrath, Salloum, Unbehaun.
San Diego State goal saves: Campoli 15.
Arizona State goal saves: Morris 5.