March 6, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The ninth-ranked San Diego State water polo team defeated No. 12 UC Irvine, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex. With the win, SDSU improves to 10-7 overall and the Anteaters fall to 8-6 on the season.
The Aztecs opened up the scoring with a goal by Sarah Brady with 4:51 remaining in the first period. UC Irvine responded about a minute later when Danielle Warde squeezed the ball past the goalkeeper to knot it up at 1-1. The Anteaters notched one more score in the opening frame when Cortney Collyer converted on a 6-on-5 opportunity with just over a minute remaining to take a 2-1 lead.
SDSU's offense stepped it up early in the second period, tying the contest on a power play goal by Amber Pezzolla with 6:53 remaining. Both teams turned up on defense from that point as the next score didn't come until there was less than a minute remaining. Kimmy Keach found the upper corner of the net on a cross-cage shot to give the Aztecs a 3-1 advantage heading into the half.
Defense was the story of the third period as neither team could find the back of the net. SDSU finally scored with 2:33 remaining when Leanne Ford converted on a penalty shot. A minute later, Alex Ford was successful on the 6-on-5-player advantage to give the Aztecs a 5-2 lead.
UC Irvine came out of the gates with two early goals in the final period. Katie Croghan scored the first on a power play with 6:15 remaining and then Caitlin Haskell netted a goal to bring the Anteaters within one. The score remained at 5-4 for almost two minutes before SDSU converted a 6-on-5 with 3:08 remaining to give the Aztecs a two-goal lead and eventually the win.
San Diego State returns to the Aztec Aquaplex next weekend for the Aztec Invitational. SDSU's first contest is against Wagner on Friday, March 11, at 2 p.m.
No. 9 San Diego State 6, UC Irvine 4
Aztec Aquaplex - San Diego, Calif.
UCI 2-0-0-2--4
SDSU 1-2-2-1--6
UCI goals: Danielle Warde, Cortney Collyer, Katie Croghan, Caitlin Haskell
SDSU goals: Sarah Brady 2, Amber Pezzolla, Leanne Ford, Alex Ford, Kimmy Keach
SDSU saves: Kelly Campoli: 13
UCI saves: Morgan Vickers: unavailable