Feb. 27, 2015
SAN DIEGO - Defense ruled the afternoon in a non-conference game between No. 12 San Diego State and No. 5 UC Irvine, but it was the Anteaters who prevailed, 5-4, in sudden victory at Aztec Aquaplex. The loss dipped SDSU's record to 6-7, while UCI improved to 9-5.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the game moved to sudden victory where the Aztecs nearly got the game-winner if not for a clutch save from UC Irvine goalkeeper Jillian Yocum. As the action switched ends of the pool, San Diego State goalie Rachel Mitchell matched her counterpart with a spectacular stop, but the deflection sailed over the crossbar giving the Anteaters possession. When play resumed, UCI swung the ball to Mary Brooks, who fired the ball toward the upper right corner where it went off Mitchell's left hand and into the back of the cage to seal the game.
The Aztecs started the day off on the right foot, scoring twice in the first period. Nikole Ferrari was on point with her long-range attempt as was Caroline Israels, who skipped her shot from almost the same spot as Ferrari. In the second quarter, SDSU turned its 2-0 lead into a 3-0 advantage when Ioli Benekou navigated her strike through traffic with the shot clock winding down with 4:35 left before halftime. Unfortunately for San Diego State, it turned the ball over near mid-pool and Destene Albers raced down the pool and beat Mitchell with nine seconds left before intermission.
In the third period, UC Irvine shut down the Aztec offensive attack and scored twice to knot the score at 3-3. The Anteaters forced SDSU into another miscue near the middle of the pool and Danielle Warde converted the two-one-one opportunity. Later with 1:23 left in the frame, Tess de Lange successfully skipped her penalty shot past the outstretched Mitchell to level the score.
The Anteaters posted their fourth unanswered goal less than three minutes into the final quarter after Brooks somehow managed to squeeze her shot through the arms of Mitchell. Facing a one-goal deficit, the Aztecs came up empty on their next handful of possessions, but they continued to stay in the game thanks to a suffocating defense. Their effort on the defensive end paid off with just over two minutes to play when they forced a turnover in front of Mitchell. The goalkeeper gathered the loose ball and fired a long pass to a streaking Anique Hermann, who drew a penalty. Benekou then lined up and tied the score at 4 apiece. SDSU had one last chance to escape with the victory as time expired, but Benekou's low attempt clanged off the bottom of the left post, which led to overtime.
Mitchell finished with a season-high 15 saves and Yocum had seven. In the scoring department, Benekou and Brooks tallied a game-high two goals. For SDSU, Ferrari and Israels had one, as did Albers, de Lange and Warde for UC Irvine.
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday afternoon when it plays host to No. 15 Long Beach State. First sprint at Aztec Aquaplex is set for 1 p.m. PT.
No. 5 UC Irvine 5, No. 12 San Diego State 4
Aztec Aquaplex; San Diego, Calif.
UCI 0-1-2-1--0-0--1---5
SDSU 2-1-0-1--0-0--0---4
UCI goals: Brooks 2, Albers, de Lange, Warde
SDSU goals: Benekou 2, Ferrari, Israels
UCI saves: Yocum 7
SDSU saves: Mitchell 15