March 21, 2015
LOS ANGELES - The 17th-ranked San Diego State water polo team closed off its three-game run at the LMU Invitational on a sour note Saturday, dropping a 7-5 decision to Michigan at Burns Aquatics Center. With the loss, the Aztecs completed the tournament with a 2-1 mark, falling to 13-12 on the season.
After netting 23 goals in victories over Concordia (Calif.) and Brown on Friday, the SDSU offense was stymied by Wolverine goalkeeper Julia Campbell, who made 10 saves on the afternoon and held the Scarlet and Black scoreless over the final 14:27 of the contest.
The Aztecs found themselves facing a 2-0 deficit early in the first quarter before responding with three straight goals, including a strike by junior Taylor Gums (Lodi, Calif.) with 40 seconds left in the period. However, Michigan quickly knotted the score on its ensuing next possession at 3-3 when a shot by Elizabeth Williams found the back of the cage.
After an exchange of goals in the second frame gave the contest its 4-4 deadlock at intermission, SDSU took its final lead of the day when senior Carina Carballo (Mexico City, Mexico) hit pay dirt with a goal at the 6:56 mark of the third quarter.
However, the Wolverines promptly stole the Aztec momentum on their next foray down the pool as Kelly Martin's tally leveled the score at 5-5 just 29 seconds later. Later in the period, Williams' second goal of the contest put Michigan ahead to stay, while teammate Allison Skaggs closed out the scoring with a strike early in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Caroline Israels (Pompano Beach, Fla.) finished with two additional goals for SDSU on Saturday, giving her 12 in the last four games, while fellow classmate Alyssa Diacono (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) added a score of her own midway through the first quarter.
The Aztecs will venture across the Pacific for a three-game stay in the Aloha State, beginning Friday, March 27, when they square off against Brazil in an exhibition match, followed by non-conference battles with UCLA and Hawai'i.
MICHIGAN 7, No. 17 SAN DIEGO STATE 5LMU InvitationalDay TwoBurns Aquatics Center; Los Angeles, Calif.
MICHIGAN 3-1-2-1 -- 7SDSU 3-1-1-0 -- 5
SDSU GoalsIsraels 2, Carballo 1, Diacono 1, Gums 1
Michigan GoalsSkaggs 2, Williams 2, Martin 1, Nolan 1, Thomason 1
SDSU SavesMitchell 3
Michigan SavesCampbell 10