Jan. 20, 2013
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Seventh-ranked San Diego State improved to 3-1 on the season after defeating No. 14 Indiana, 11-5, and No. 11 Michigan, 11-10 in double overtime, on the final day of the Michigan Kick-Off.
In the game vs. the Hoosiers, SDSU allowed IU to strike first, but pulled even after Anique Hermann found the back of the net. Amber Pezzolla briefly gave the Aztecs a lead only to have Indiana's Katie Contreras level the score. San Diego State, however, closed the quarter with a flurry as Tori Long and Pezzolla scored in the final 90 seconds to propel it to a 4-2 lead.
The first six minutes of the second period was dominated by defense as neither team dented the scoreboard. Pezzolla, however, ended the stalemate by pocketing two more goals in the final 2:04 of the half, which gave the Aztecs a 6-2 lead at intermission.
San Diego State continued to stymie Indiana in the third quarter as they held the Hoosiers off the scoreboard for a second consecutive period. Offensively, the Aztecs continued to roll, netting four goals themselves. Hermann added her second, Pezzolla scored her fifth and sixth of the morning, and Taelor Moreno got in on the act with her first of the game.
Indiana scored twice in the fourth quarter to get within six of the Aztecs at 10-4, but Long recorded her second of the game to put any threat of a comeback to rest. The Hoosiers added a late goal, but it was not enough as SDSU emerged with the six-goal decision.
Two hours later, San Diego State returned to the pool to face the hosts, Michigan, and it proved to be the most entertaining game of the two-day event.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, but Pezzolla erased the Aztec deficit with a pair of goals separated by 52 seconds. Michigan, however, responded with two goals of its own and carried a 4-2 lead into the second period.
SDSU flipped the script on UM in the next quarter, outscoring the Wolverines, 4-1. Carina Carballo brought San Diego State to within one with her first just 21 seconds in the stanza. Michigan answered on its next trip down, but the Aztecs went Emily Whalen goal, Whalen goal and Alex Ford goal all while holding the Wolverines scoreless to take a 6-5 lead into halftime.
San Diego State's dominance on offense continued into third quarter as it posted three goals to Michigan's one. Pezzolla and Bailey Wickliffe added to SDSU's total before the Wolverines temporarily stopped the Aztecs' scoring spree. Whalen completed the hat trick with 3:37 left in the third, which gave San Diego State a 9-6 lead.
Similar to how SDSU dominated the second and third quarters, Michigan did the same to the Aztecs in the fourth. The Wolverines rattled the cage within the first minute and San Diego State appeared to be on its way to a comfortable win. But with 3:12 left in regulation, UM scored to make it 9-8 Aztecs. Moreno extended SDSU's lead to two with a goal on the ensuing possession only to have Michigan's Audrey Pratt do the same to cut San Diego State's cushion to 10-9 with 2:25 to go. Then with four seconds remaining, Michigan completed the rally after Presley Pender scored to force overtime.
Nothing happened in the first extra session and the sudden-victory period looked to be a carbon copy of the first until Michigan turned the ball over in front of its net and Wickliffe took advantage with 1:17 left to lift the Aztecs to victory.
Rachel Mitchell, again, was fantastic in net for a second straight day. The true freshman tied her career high with 13 saves vs. Indiana and turned in another six vs. Michigan.
The Aztecs return to action next Saturday, Jan. 26, when they compete in the annual alumni game at Aztec Aquaplex. First sprint is set for 11 a.m. PT and admission is free.
No. 7 San Diego State 11, No. 14 Indiana 5
IU 2-0-0-3--5
SDSU 4-2-4-1--11
IU Goals: Kohli, Creighton, Redfern, Fournier, Gerrity
SDSU Goals: Pezzolla 6, Hermann 2, Long 2, Moreno
Saves: Gaudreault - 3 (IU), Mitchell - 13 (SDSU)
No. 7 San Diego State 11, No. 11 Michigan 10 (2OT)
UM 4-1-1-4--0-0---10
SDSU 2-4-3-1--0-1---11
UM Goals: Pratt 2, Pender 2, Golden 2, Robinson, Beckwith, Colton, Nolan
SDSU Goals: Whalen 3, Pezzolla 3, Wickliffe 2, Ford, Corballo, Moreno
Saves: Adamson - 8 (UM), Mitchell - 6 (SDSU)