Feb. 24, 2013
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 7 San Diego State upset one team, but could not pull off the sweep on the final day of the UC Irvine Invitational on Sunday. The Aztecs upended the hosts, No. 6 UCI, 6-5, before falling to fourth-ranked California, 8-6. With the split, SDSU watched its record move to 10-5.
Meeting for the second time in its last four games, San Diego State avenged an earlier loss to the Anteaters. The teams were even through one half as each scored two goals in the first quarter and one in the second.
Tied at 3 heading into the final 16 minutes, the Aztecs found the back of the net twice and held the home side to just one goal. San Diego State's effort in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the teams once again matched each other's scoring effort in the fourth with one goal apiece.
For the victors, Amber Pezzolla led all players with a hat trick and Anique Hermann chipped in two goals. Emily Whalen also scored for SDSU and Rachel Mitchell picked up the win in net.
In the final game of the invitational, the Aztecs proved to be a tough challenge for the No. 4 Golden Bears. Each team tallied one goal in both the first and second quarters, but similar to SDSU's effort vs. UCI, California returned the favor in the second half.
The Bears posted four goals in the third period and the Aztecs were unable to match California's effort, finding the back of the net just three times. Trailing 6-5 heading into the last eight minutes, the Golden Bears dented the scoreboard twice. SDSU, unfortunately, could not find the equalizer, scoring just once to end on the wrong side of an 8-6 score.
Taelor Moreno scored twice to lead the Scarlet and Black. Pezzolla, Hermann, Samantha Voigt and Kelli Boling, meanwhile, each contributed one goal. Mitchell was tough in the cage once again, stopping six shots.
The Aztecs return to action on Saturday, March 2, when they open their first season in the Big West Conference. The league game against a familiar foe, UC Irvine, is set for Aztec Aquaplex at 1 p.m. PT.
No. 7 San Diego State 6, No. 6 UC Irvine 5
SDSU 2-1-2-1--6
UCI 2-1-1-1--5
SDSU goals: Pezzolla 3, Hermann 2, Whalen
UCI goals: Mitchell 2, Stewart, Kipp, Klatt
SDSU saves: Mitchell - unavailable
UCI saves: Yocum - unavailable
No. 4 California 8, No. 7 San Diego State 6
SDSU 1-1-3-1--6
CAL 1-1-4-2--8
SDSU goals: Moreno 2, Voigt, Hermann, Boling, Pezzolla
CAL goals: Csikos 4, Vosters 2, Young, Saunders
SDSU saves: Mitchell - 6
CAL saves: Smith - 7