March 20, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The ninth-ranked SDSU water polo team's offense stayed scorching hot on a cold and windy Sunday morning, defeating Maryland by a score of 10-4. With the victory, the Aztecs improved their record to 13-9 on the season.
It was business as usual for the Scarlet and Black in the first quarter, making short work of the unranked Terrapins through a mixture of aggressive breakouts and sharp shooting. Ronni Gautschi got the scoring started for SDSU, finding the back of the net at the 5:32 mark for a 1-0 Aztecs lead. A Sarah Brady lob, followed by a Kimmy Keach signature no-look skip shot inside five meters and another Brady goal put the Aztecs up 4-0 at the break.
The story remained the same in the second quarter, as the Aztecs received goals from Meaghan Poland and Keach. Maryland was finally able to get on the board when Katie Ermakova found an opening with 3:04 remaining in the half.
With the score 6-2 in the third quarter, Poland had the highlight of the day when she was left alone on the left side of the net, giving her enough time to easily beat a diving Shelby Reyes on a cross-net shot. Gautschi, Alex Ford and Leanne Ford would also score, putting the Aztecs up 10-2 at the end of the third quarter.
Following a switch at goalkeeper for both teams at the start of the fourth quarter, Maryland would receive goals from Christine Goetsch and Molly Ruth to make the final score 10-4.
Kelly Campoli had another stellar performance in net, making 17 saves and limiting Maryland to just two goals over her three quarters of work. The standout junior has done an excellent job of establishing herself as the verbal leader of the defense, directing the suffocating Aztec defense down low.
The Aztecs will be back in action later this afternoon when they take on the Whittier Poets at 4 p.m. PT, at the Aztec Aquaplex.
No. 9 San Diego State 10, Maryland 4
Aztec Aquaplex - San Diego, Calif.
MARY 0-1-1-2--4
SDSU 4-2-4-0--10
MARY goals: Katie Ermakova 2, Christine Goetsch, Molly Ruth
SDSU goals: Sarah Brady 2, Ronni Gautschi 2, Meaghan Poland 2, Alex Ford, Leanne Ford, Kimmy Keach
MARY saves: Shelby Reyes, Rachel Stein - Unavailable
SDSU saves: Kelly Campoli - 17, Erin Abrams - 5