April 4, 2009
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The No. 7 San Diego State water polo team could not hold off a late rally by the fourth-ranked University of Hawai`i on Friday evening as the Rainbow Wahine came back to defeat SDSU, 11-9. With the win, Hawai'i won their third Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match and seventh straight overall. The Scarlet and Black fall to 20-7 overall and 0-6 in MPSF, while the Rainbow Wahine improve to 16-7 overall and 3-4 in MPSF action.
Senior Erinn Greenwood led the Aztecs with four goals, while classmate and co-captain Jenna Schuster added three scores. Senior Anna Gonzales and junior Ronni Gautschi each found the back of the net once. Freshman Kelly Campoli had 11 saves in front of the cage.
San Diego State got off to a fast offensive start in the first quarter, posting a 4-1 lead over UH after eight minutes. Greenwood would score the first three goals of the contest, completing the hat trick at the 5:01 mark. Leonie Van Der Molen would get Hawai'i on the board with 2:51 to play, but Gonzales would close out first quarter scoring with 25 seconds remaining in the first frame on a five-meter penalty shot.
The Aztecs enjoyed a 4-1 lead entering the second stanza, but the Rainbow Wahine, however, went on to score four unanswered goals in the second quarter before adding two more just two minutes into the third to take a 7-4 lead midway through the third quarter.
San Diego State answered back in the middle of the third quarter when Gautschi put in a goal with just under five minutes to play in the third frame. The Rainbow Wahine traded goals with the Aztecs in the third stanza, but held on to a 10-7 lead to start the final quarter.
SDSU answered back on the Rainbow Wahine when Schuster scored two unanswered goals for the Aztecs, bringing the score to a close 10-9. With 3:11 left in the match, UH's Van Der Molen secured the home team's lead to 11-9. Hawai'i was able to hold off the Aztecs over the final three minutes to secure the victory.
Leading the way Friday for the Rainbow Wahine was Van Der Molen with five goals, while Serena Bredin recorded nine saves.
The Aztecs will return to the Aztec Aquaplex on Friday, April 10, for a double-header against Michigan (12 p.m. PT) and CS San Bernardino (2 p.m. PT).
No. 4 Hawai'i 11, No. 7 SDSU 9
April 3, 2009
Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex
SDSU: 4-0-3-2 -- 9
UH: 1-4-5-1 -- 11
UH Scoring: Van Der Molen 5, Hanson-Swaner 2, Eggens, Genee, Mason, Motekaitis.
SDSU Scoring: Greenwood 4, Schuster 3, Gautschi, Gonzales.
UH Goalie Saves: Bredin 9
SDSU Goalie Saves: Campoli 11